"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."~Dalai Lama
Someone recently told me during a conversation that they didn't see how I could possibly be happy every day, because after all "nobody can be happy the majority of the time." Well, by the end of the conversation the individual agreed that we can live a happier life every day. Living happier every day might not be easy for everyone, but it is possible for everyone.
I have been blessed to achieve living a happy and fulfilled life because I choose to. We all have the choice to determine if we choose to live happy or not. That doesn't mean that we never go through anything painful or sad, but it does mean that even in the face of challenges, sadness, and struggles, we have made the decision to live as happy as we can. And sometimes that means making a comeback after the challenge, sad event, or struggle has gotten better. Sometimes living a happier life every day has to follow some level of healing.
On a daily basis I choose to think of the things that make me happy, I choose to let faith lead and guide me through my rough moments, and I choose to be grateful for the blessings in my life such as health, family, and friends. I choose not to focus on the unexpected passing of my mother, or the untimely passing of my grandson, or any of the other numerous things that have been a painful place for me. I make a conscious choice daily to live a joyful life.
I made a decision a long time ago to live a happier and more fulfilled life. I had lost a lot of years to pain, and I wanted to experience joyful living. One thing we can never get back in life is time, so now I cherish every minute I am blessed to live.
Does that mean that I never have sad moments? Absolutely not, all of us have sad moments. And that is okay, but it is important not to let those sad moments cause us to get stuck in an emotional rut. I have been there and it is no fun.
Below are three keys that can help you live happier every day. These are not the only three keys, but they are three keys that can help you unleash living happier beginning today.
1. Be thankful first thing in the morning:
Waking up every day thankful can help you to live a happier life every day. Showing daily gratitude first thing in the morning can help you to get your day started off in a positive direction. Getting your day started in a positive direction can establish a foundation for how the rest of your day goes.
2. Do something daily that makes you smile:
Whatever it is that makes you smile, do it daily. This doesn't have to be something big. It can be something as small as talking a walk in the park, talking to a loved one on the phone, singing your favorite song, watching something on television, or reading your favorite book. Doing something joyful daily keeps your "happy tank" full. Don't get so preoccupied with the busyness of life that you forget to do things that bring you joy. This is one way to experience some level of daily happiness.
3. Have faith that any rough times will get better:
It is inevitable that at some point in life we will all have troubled times. It is important to have hope and faith that the troubled times will get better. Things may not get better overnight, but every day find some level of improvement in your situation. Maybe it is that you smiled more than the day before, or you spoke more positive than the day before, or you cried less than the day before. The key is to look for any sign that things are getting better. Focus on the solution and not the problem, and make daily strides toward living happier every day.
