They say that: "happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life". But to achieve this state of happiness may well require a little effort by way of setting the tone for each day ahead with a good dose of positivity. Starting the day well and making small changes to our outlook on life can make a big difference to our overall happiness.
Count Your Blessings
It's so easy to take things for granted, but when you stop and think about the good things in your life, you feel truly blessed. For me, I have a family who are everything to me. I have a husband who I am still totally in love with, even after two decades together! My children are my world. Motherhood defines me and my children's love validates me. Being surrounded by the love and laughter of my family is a wonderful place to be.
Be Mindful
If you are constantly complaining
about the weather, your lack of money or the fact that you're a few pounds
overweight, then you are wasting precious time, giving yourself over to
pessimism and missing out on the everyday wonders that surround us. Being mindful of the positive things that are
present in the here and now, however small they may seem, helps combat stress
and anxiety, opening us up to a happier more content outlook. Just taking a moment to be still and to reflect on these things can be life changing.
Silver Linings
Making a conscious effort to find silver linings in anything
that may initially be thought of as a negative is a great way of finding the good in situations.
We can't change the world, but we can change the way we perceive it and
respond to it. There are lessons to be learned if we open ourselves up to them. As Doctor Seuss so beautifully said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
Stop and Smell the Coffee
Thinking of the things that make us happy is an antidote to the stresses and strains of modern living. But this doesn't mean we should be focusing purely on the big and possibly unachievable things. Yes. we'd all love to win the lottery or land our dream job, but these things don't happen very often to ordinary folk. Instead, we should take the time to recognise the little sources of happiness that happen around us everyday and appreciate them when they arise. For me, it's the smell of coffee, the feel of sunshine on my skin, seeing a rainbow, hearing my kids laughter, eating the perfect strawberry, baking a cake, a lunchtime phone call with my husband or reading a good book. Recognising these little things that make us happy and bring us pleasure, is a great start to achieving a greater happiness.
Spread a Little Happiness
A shared smile with a stranger. The warm feeling of knowing you have helped someone in need. Feeling a part of a greater joy. Making others happy can amplify your own feelings of happiness. It's often the little things like making small talk to the old lady in the supermarket or buying lunch for an old friend that makes us feel good about ourselves and the role we are playing in the lives of others. Random acts of kindness are seldom forgotten, and knowing that we have made someone's day a little brighter is an empowering thought.
How do you go about achieving happiness in your life??
I was challenged by Dorset Cereal to write this post about what makes me happy and how I try to inject happiness into my life . They sent me some cereals so I could enjoy a good breakfast while reflecting upon the good things that surround me. Even the packaging of the cereals put me in a happy mood, giving me a cheery disposition in the morning. After all, as Dorset Cereals say life begins at breakfast!
