Is Happiness Just be a ‘Mindset’ Away?

The pursuit of personal happiness has become a multi-million dollar industry, with everyone from online influencers to authors seeking to make a personal gain from the ‘holy grail.’ But what if happiness is much more personal, and if you could head yourself in the right direction with a few personal tweaks? While happiness can never be guaranteed, the following suggestions may be worth testing out in your own life:

Being thankful

A lot can happen in a day, a week, or a month. But unfortunately, many of us tend to remember the negative experiences more than the positive – a recipe for getting into the doldrums, if ever there was one. It may seem a simple thing to do, but actively reminding ourselves of the positives in life can help redress the balance, and in many cases, remind us there is often more reason to be happy than we may believe.

Those with a spiritual bent, often express their thankfulness through prayer, while others do so in the company of others in therapeutic groups. Keeping a journal, where the ‘positives’ of the day are recorded, is yet another way to remind ourselves of all the good we’ve experienced. From watching falling leaves, to catching up with a loved one in a phone call, recalling these little pieces of joy can bring us happiness.

Happiness is more than a feeling

‘Feeling happy,’ is a great place to be. Yet we often equate happiness with moments of elation. A feeling of elation, however, is much more intense than a feeling of happiness, and it tends to be relatively short-lived, and sometimes even ‘exhausting.’ Happiness, on the other hand, is a more settled, longer-lived period of contentment, and an acceptance of satisfaction with life. When we equate ‘happiness’ with ‘elation,’ we set ourselves up for disappointment because it is not possible to remain in this state 24/7.

To actively seek elation can be exhausting, and may also signal we are trying to escape the reality of our daily life, often in unhealthy ways. Much better, and more sustainable, is the practise of acknowledging life will bring difficulties, large and small, on an almost daily basis, but remembering we have tolerated them in the past, and come out the other side. Recalling our own resilience allows us to keep challenges in perspective, as does being social, connecting with loved ones, discussing a problem with someone we trust, and maintaining a daily routine in the face of difficulties. When we pursue these ‘arts,’ we create a balance in life, and remain open to being content even when challenges arise. 

Hope

The world is full of ‘quick fixes,’ but the reality is most of them don’t work! However, when presented with a problem, most of us still seek out a ‘quick fix’ so we can get on with ‘being happy.’ Seeking a quick fix is both exhausting and a recipe for disappointment, so what can sustain us until the real solution to the problem arises? The answer is ‘hope,’ and it’s something we usually forget in our quest to ‘solve.’ When we remind ourselves, or ask others to remind us, there is always reason to hope, no matter what we are faced with. Being hopeful means we free ourselves up to be optimistic, and optimism is a key ingredient to becoming happier. Literally writing down a list of reasons to be optimistic can go a long way toward changing a negative mindset, as can practising relaxation methods, appreciating the natural world, and helping others.

Happiness may be a feeling, but cultivating it is a skill and there are ways we can help ourselves to experience it. Good luck with your journey!