In coaching sessions, when I ask my clients how they want to feel, most respond with ‘I want to feel happy’. That’s what it comes down to really. We want to feel happy every day, and we want to know that we’ve lived a good life. But, if you focus your awareness on how you’re feeling right now, can you say that you’re actually happy? What does being happy really look like for YOU?
On the journey to discovering more about happiness, I started reading the growing research into what makes us happy and how we can cultivate it intentionally. What I love about intentionality is that it implies we have a choice and ultimately, we do! Let me repeat that... we have a choice!
The more I learned, the more enthusiasm I felt. It was so simple, really. We could do little things each day that could transform how we experience our life and the role we play in our community. And the best part; happiness has a ripple effect (three degrees of separation to be exact). I wanted to share what I’d learned and eventually, gave a talk about cultivating happiness habits.
Happy tip: When you feel enthusiastic about something, be curious about why that is and let the enthusiasm be your compass. Mine partnered me up with two beautiful and talented people, and we created #HappinessHabits613. Yours can be the beginning of true passion and meaning in your life.
“The question you should be asking isn’t, “What do I want?” or “What are my goals?” but “What would excite me?”
Now, I'm on the journey to create the SPACE for others to find their own happiness.
In the video below, I talk about discovering happiness and the story behind why my business is called Beautiful Happy Reasons.
I once read the quote "there are so many beautiful reasons to be happy" and it just made sense. That's where Beautiful Happy Reasons comes from. My reasons are what I'm grateful for everyday. With so many distractions, we sometimes have to remind ourselves that happiness is in our control and we can cultivate it right NOW.
take action
Here are three simple ways to get you started:
1. Start A Gratitude Journal
Take a few minutes to write down 3 things you’re grateful for every day (you’ll end up writing more than 3). Gratitude is such an important practice. It increases the use of positive language and teaches us to see the abundance in our lives. It only takes as little as a minute a day, but I use it as a chance to look back at my day and reflect on all the positive experiences and interactions I’ve had.
2. Give Back
Traditionally, giving back can mean giving your time or money to a cause and even though that’s still really important, giving back can include everyday kindnesses. You can tell a colleague you appreciate their hard work, buy a coffee for a stranger or even just say hello, no act of kindness is too small. It takes nothing but means everything because you’re acknowledging the presence of the other person and really, we all just want to be seen and appreciated.
3. Spend Time With Your People
When we feel stressed or overwhelmed, we have the tendency to isolate ourselves. That can make us feel more alone. What we actually need to do is go hang out with people that fill the space with positive energy when we’re around them.
My #HappinessHabits613 co-founders and I outlined 9 habits that you can start doing every day to cultivate a happy life. Download it here.
I'd love to hear from you!
What does happiness look like for you? How are you cultivating happiness on a daily basis?