You saw that coming, eh? So on Day 8 of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, it is Happiness, a habit.
By now, you know I believe in making happiness a habit. Have you noticed that Life looks much better when you are laughing?
“I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health” ~ Voltaire
The UN proclaims that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal. Naturally, we all want happy lives and we want those we love to be happy too.
Over the years, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is this:
If you take a holistic view of happiness you will find it encompasses our day to day experiences and feelings and our view of life. I’d say genetics, upbringing and the environment we grow up in, along with the state of our health and our finances have a great influence on how happy we are.
But above all this, there’s something else that absolutely decides our happiness – the choices we make, our attitude, the way we interact with others, our own values and what we focus on.
Did you know happiness is good for your heart? You can actually keep cardiovascular disease at bay by being optimistic and positive.
Every day, I discover ways to be happy. Here’s how I make happiness a habit:
- Look around and enjoy the little things. Happiness is everywhere! Appreciate the good things around me every day, big or small, that I tend to take for granted. Trees, bird song, the smell of coffee, laughter, the sky, family.
- Focus. Preferably on one thing at a time. Multi-tasking may appear necessary but it is practically not feasible. Or advisable.
- If I can’t change something, I change the way I see it or think about it.
- Upset about something? I do something I love. I refresh my mind and see the problem from a new perspective.
- Give. And give what I expect. Do unto others as I would have done unto me. You know what they say “If you want to feel good, do good.” I ask myself, “What have I done recently to make someone happy or to help others?”
“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions” – Dalai Lama
- I make more time for the people who matter. I phone a friend I haven’t kept in touch with for a while. I email someone I’ve been meaning to write to. I write letters of thanks. I take a moment to appreciate the good things about someone important in my life.
- Slow down. Relax. Sundays and holidays were made for a reason. I take a digital vacation once in a while.
- I think before I speak, especially when I am upset. If I have nothing nice to say, I say nothing.
- Let go of anger and grudges. They can be like acid – corrosive.
- I am trying to say goodbye to toxic relationships.
- I don’t fear success. Or failure. I strive to quell my inner critic and try not to doubt yourself. I am my best friend.
- Practice Gratitude. In fact, developing an attitude of gratitude makes life wonderful. Appreciation makes me more tolerant and turns dire situations into tolerable ones.
Happiness is a DIY project. It is in your hands, you know. Celebrate yourself. Every day.
It is that easy.
Have you seen the world’s first 24 hour music video by Pharrell Williams? Watch it here. It is fun!
Now: List three things you do to make yourself happy.
Whom shall we visit today? Let’s go see:
Meena Menon at Meena’s Space
Damaria Senne at Growing Our Food
♥
Wow Vidya,
How happy am l to hop by today. I am so happy, l feel good. This very morning l felt low because l couldnt make a call to the irs to get an ein for my royalties etc. Then l remembered how patient l had been so far and then my cheer came back.
I won’t reveal another surprise because you guys are hours ahead. So lets wait for tomorrow to see my own H word. Hmm. 🙂
Woo hoo, Marie! Can’t wait to see your “H” post! Hugs!
Therw is a song by R Kelly: Happy People, a good one too.
happiness is a choice isnt it?? its only us who can decide whether we can b happy or not! situations are powerless until we give them the control! a nice post filled with positivity 🙂
Thanks Vidya for this HAPPY post!
These days we are so busy we sometimes forget to feel happy 🙂
Spot on, Vidya ! So very true, that happiness lies in our heart. Only if we knew where, how and when to look for it !
We knew your H will be for happiness 😀 I’m linking this to your objective of collecting smiles 😉
Happiness is certainly a matter of choice, not one of chance.
You’ve given a nice list of ways to be happy. I practise most of them. I also make it a point to watch only comedy films, soaps, etc., totally avoiding the melodrama stuff. Actually laughing does make me happier!
I try to keep toxic people out of my life as much as possible. This, in my opinion, is crucial.
Another wonderfully positive and happy post from you Vidya. I love the quotes you have shared. Yes indeed, looking for happiness can be made into a happy habit! I find the tip about thinking before speaking a very helpful reminder for me. Thank you 🙂
wow!!.. a very refreshing post.. will see if I can follow the pointers you have ,mentioned..
Walt Whitman’s quote is what I live by. This moment, right here, is what I have. I choose to be happy. All the ways you have listed are eminently do-able. Sigh, some days it is hard though, Vidya. Very hard indeed…
A very exhaustive list for securing happiness!!!
If one gives up the search for happiness,it will perhaps descend on you.Happiness is more to do with giving up.
There will be wonderful change if we Give up the need to be always right,the need to be in control,
complaining,blaming,the need to impress,the limiting beliefs,resisting change,the baseless fears,
attachments expectations etc.Look for happiness in others and you find yourself happy.
Happiness it indeed is to know U 😀
Oh yes each time I take away a bit of happiness and positivity from your posts Vidya. Since the year kicked off I’ve been focussing on being happy and it’s coming on quite well. Isn’t it wonderful that being happy is in our own hands?
This post comes on a day I feel angry and irritated for no specific reason! Thanks Vidya!
Awww, Naba! So sorry to hear that. Some days can be real s*it, right? Come here, let me give you one tight hug! ♥ Think of something that makes you really happy – or laugh!
There is so much to learn and soak from your posts, everyday, Vidya! Reading you is my happy moment!
And yes, “If you want to feel good, do good”, is what works for me too 🙂 You surely spread a lot of happiness around you! ♥
Lovely post Vidya! Co-incidentally I have chosen the same word Happiness. Happiness is a wonderful habit and once inculcated it changes life for the better. Lovely quotes!
Naturally! 😉
Happiness being a habit fits in so well with the book I reviewed today – talking about the skills we can acquire to make us happy. Forgiveness is listed among them.
Hi Vidya
Just read inspiring information today, but one thing that really stood out at the end was a phrase:
“Expect wonderful things”.
I think if you expect you can’t help but get. This is going to be one of those things that will keep a positive influence on what can happen. You attract what you believe in. Happiness is ours if we really want it.
Mary
This is so true and I love creating my cards and, for this month reading people’s A to Z blogs and my pets that includes my husband-hahaha). It seems to me that the more people have and can easily attain the more unhappy they become in some ways. My friend, for the past 3 years , has lived in Thailand over the winter months and he has found the people and children and smiling and laughing even though they do not have much. They are so grateful for the little things he has given to them. I think when one has more we do not realize how wonderful it is and can lose our way. Money, fame, image does not make a person happy. It is up to us even when times are difficult to find our happiness even in a silly TV show. If it makes us smile or laugh-it is good
Hi Vidz! You had to know I would come over for this post!
Family family family – does anything else matter?
Three things I do to make myself happy? Write. Go outside. Remember how blessed I am.
Will you come and take the challenge I pose on the porch today? I hope so, though I know how busy you are. Perhaps you can do it in the comments. Come by – you’ll see 😉
Lori
Lori, so delighted to have you here. Hugs! Do you remember that last year I reviewed your book The Happy Place for the letter H? 🙂 I thought of you so much as I wrote this post! Yes, I am on my way to the porch! I read the post in my email. 😀
“Remembering how blessed I am” is my motto!
A lovely, happy, heartwarming post:) A timely reminder indeed! Cheers! Kaarina
feeling positive after reading this!!! I was already too happy!! Now I am even more happy!! 😀
And happiness is reading your words 🙂 …. My H was also happiness 🙂
Yes, happiness in the here and now… that is so important!
…and happiness is a state of mind! And a choice!
Vidiya, for all the smiles you collect, and those you put on peoples faces, it is my honour and in all modesty, to nominate you for not one but five awards. Hope you accept this humble gesture of mine:
Marie, grateful we are connected and honored you nominated me. Hugs and love!