Happiness

The secret to happiness in 2021: Start with these 2 simple steps.

First, we’ll discuss change and why it is important. After that, we will talk about how gratitude and happiness go hand and hand.

1. Change What is in Your Control

The Serenity Prayer, one of my favorites:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Though I am not religious, I find myself leaning on my version of that prayer when I feel stressed or worried about things I cannot control.  

My aim is to always be present and grateful for any level of good that I am experiencing from moment to moment.  It could be something as simple as a warm, buttered slice of toast or a new piece of jewelry.  Being present and grateful works. 

Am I saying be grateful for a sad, awful, uncomfortable, hard situation? No.  However, what I am saying is there is usually something we can be grateful for, even while experiencing a bad week, month, day… or, you get it.  Even if it is something as simple as having eyesight and the ability to read this post.

For example, I used to concern myself with bettering myself for the attainment of ‘nicer things’. My mind would be preoccupied with, ” If I had this… If I had that… Consequently, I was waiting for happiness to arrive at some distant point in the future once I got that “dream job”, “dream car”, or etc.

However, it wasn’t until I lost everything that I found the most happiness. 

I had been laid off and had to vacate my apartment within a month.  It was then that I learned to define what happiness meant to me outside of physical things or accomplishments.  I had realized that happiness wasn’t a place or a thing. Happiness is something I choose over and over. Everyday.

Above all, I realize that happiness is a choice.  Don’t get me wrong, there are varying levels of happiness, but it is still a choice.    

I like to ask myself, can you change it or make it better? If yes, do something about it.  

If no, then it is out of your and there is noting you can do about it. And worrying or being upset won’t fix it. Accept it and move on by thinking about or doing something else.  

Life goes on and there is no benefit in dwelling on something that cannot changed or fixed.  It is a waste of time and only makes matters or you feel even worse.

Sounds harsh reading it back to myself, but it is that simple.  A simple truth that, if understood earlier, would have gotten me to happiness much quicker.

Happiness

2. Gratitude

Gratitude and happiness go hand and hand. 

If you can’t be grateful for what you actually have, how will having more make you happier?

So, to be mindful and present, one of my favorite things to do is gratitude journal. Especially if I feel blah! My gratitude journal is where, generally before bed, I write down at least 3 things I am most grateful for that day. 

They don’t have to be profound things, mind you.

Above all, my goal is to simply acknowledge the good in my life, no matter how small. 

Therefore, when I am in an “attitude of gratitude” I find myself looking for things to be grateful for throughout my day, and it feels wonderful and uplifting. 

As a result, gratitude makes me happier being an active witness to all of the good around me.  

Furthermore, being grateful has been scientifically proven to have healing and uplifting effects on us.  Click here for more info!

Want to learn more about my gratitude journaling process?  Click here! and Here!

If you found this post helpful please let me know in the comments and share with a friend!

Happiness

Thanks for stopping by.

Love,

LaRie

xo