Finding Happiness Within Yourself - Rachel Devine
Finding Happiness Within Yourself
Finding happiness within yourself will be one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. At the end of the day, if you have a foundation of inner happiness, then the outer world cannot penetrate that happiness. The key is to get to a point where, no matter what happens in life, you will be steady in your inner world. You might ask yourself, how do I find happiness? You can’t look outside yourself, happiness is an inside job. Happiness is not outside you, it is inside you. Finding your own happiness is a thought away. What we think determines how happy we are. Our thoughts have power over us in all areas of our life. Being aware of this is crucial to finding happiness. Being present, in the moment, is also crucial to happiness. When we are in the moment, we are safe from past regrets and future worry. The moment is the main place where we find happiness. In this article, I will guide you to find your own happiness in life.
Let’s explore this further with the following suggestions for happiness:
Being Present
Being present and in the moment is crucial to happiness. When we are in the moment, we are safe from past regrets and future worry. The moment is where we find happiness and joy, because we are not bogged down by negative past or future thoughts. Also, the Spirit of God is in the present moment. We can only connect to God in the moment. When we pray or meditate we are brought to the present moment, which gives one a sense of peace and joy.
These are some ways to stay in the moment:
Prayer - For many people, connecting to the devine or higher power provides happiness.
Mindful breathing - Taking slow, deep breaths brings you into the present moment.
Loving-kindness meditation - Wishing well for self and others generates goodwill and happiness.
Visualization - Visualization brings one to the present moment.
Walk in Nature - Walking in nature, in a mindful way that takes in the beauty of the earth, is a way to be in the moment.
Achieving Inner Peace
Achieving inner peace is a definite pathway to joy and happiness.
Here are some effective ways to achieve inner peace:
Meditation - Quieting the mind through breathing exercises, mantras, and mindfulness helps calm anxiety.
Yoga - Moving through poses and sequences creates body-mind awareness and reduces stress.
Spending time in nature - Being outdoors surrounded by natural beauty promotes serenity.
Journaling - Writing out thoughts, feelings, and intentions clarifies emotions.
Forgiveness - Letting go of grudges, resentment, and anger frees you from negativity and brings serenity.
Living with Purpose
When you have a purpose in life your happiness is a guarantee. No matter what problems you have, a purpose in life brings meaning, passion and joy. Being able to do what you love doing, on a daily basis, will keep you in a happy place. You can transform your life with purpose. Your purpose is something you love doing that benefits humanity or the earth in some way.
Here are some of the key benefits associated with living a purposeful life:
Improved health - Having a purpose lowers risk of diseases and increases longevity.
Greater happiness - Purpose provides a sense of meaning and life satisfaction.
More fulfillment - Aligning life with purpose creates a profound sense of fulfillment.
Improved self-esteem - Contributing to something larger than yourself is empowering.
More creativity - Purpose drives innovation as people find solutions.
Leaving a legacy - Purpose creates something meaningful that outlasts a lifetime.
Spiritual development - Finding your purpose can be part of a spiritual journey.
Living and working towards a sense of purpose has been shown in research to provide lasting benefits across many dimensions from physical to psychological wellbeing and of course it invokes self-fulfillment and happiness.
Practicing Gratitude
Gratitude is probably the single most important way of thinking, that invokes a sense of contentment and happiness. Simply stating each day, 5 to 10 things you are grateful for, can be life-changing. However, it takes time to see the benefits. It is suggested to do it at least 30 days.
Here are some key benefits of practicing gratitude for cultivating greater happiness:
Boosts mood - Focusing on what you're thankful for releases dopamine which elevates your mood.
Reduces stress - Gratitude helps regulate the nervous system by activating the parasympathetic response to calm anxiety.
Improves sleep - Thoughts of gratitude before bed have been shown to help improve sleep quality.
Increases optimism - A gratitude mindset makes you appreciate the positive in life rather than focusing on the negative.
Increases empathy - Thanking those who have helped you cultivates compassion and concern for others' wellbeing.
Enhances overall health - Studies link gratitude to improved heart health, lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation.
Cultivating gratitude through practices like journaling, meditation, reflection, and thanking others, can lead to lasting benefits for your happiness, health, and general wellbeing. It also generates abundance, since we are now focused on what we have and not what we don’t have. That positive energy comes back to you.
Spreading Joy
Spreading joy to others is such a natural expression of our own happiness. Just using a kind word, a compliment, or spending quality time with someone, has so many wonderful benefits. When we give out goodwill, it always comes back to us.
Here are some of the main benefits that can come from spreading joy to others:
Improves emotional health - Spreading joy increases feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin to boost your mood.
Provides meaning - Serving a greater purpose through spreading joy can be spiritually fulfilling.
Boosts energy - Spreading joy and laughter releases endorphins that boost energy to the giver and the receiver.
Improves health - Studies show altruistic behaviors like spreading joy may improve heart health.
Creates positive ripples - The joy we spread can be passed on to touch many lives in a domino effect on our world.
The simple act of intentionally spreading more joy has the power to uplift others and come back and uplift ourselves in return through its myriad of benefits. Remember the law of attraction is clear, what we put out into the world comes back to us.
In conclusion, happiness is a state of mind. One can be happy in a warzone, and another can be miserable at a party. Our state of mind is the equalizer in each situation in life. There can be a person who cleans house, smiling and singing the whole day, and there could be a board member of a big corporation, in the perfect job, complaining all day long. Again, it is all about our state of mind. Abraham Lincoln said, “You are as happy as you make up your mind to be.” It’s that simple!
Rachel Devine is the author of, “The Third Road & Lessons from the Needle in a Haystack.”
Also, check out, Secret to Happiness Quotes, that are uplifting.
What brings you happiness in your life? Leave a comment below.