Happiness is not just one of those ideas that we say in passing or a feeling that we long to experience and say, “Well, we can never be truly happy because of x,y, z.” Happiness is present all of the time, and the choice is yours to decide to recognize what makes you happy and where you can increase happiness in your life.
1. Passion
When you have a passion that pours out of every cell of your body, others cannot help but take notice, and you cannot do anything else. It can consume your life and when you are in this state, there is an ever so present aspect of joy and happiness. Being passionate is not just something that you have to do, but something that you absolute love to do bringing a smile to your face no matter the ups and downs that you are facing.
2. Bliss
Bliss is that element where you know you can’t escape it. Essentially you are 100% happy with life at this moment and time. You are content and love where things are going. Bliss is what we all need and yet is one of the things that we never talk about as most think it is unattainable, but in reality it’s all in our mindset.
3. Peace
Happiness brings about a sense of peace in your life. When you are peaceful, there is not any source of worry entering into your life. You are content, happy and enjoying the moment that you have right now without any turmoil.
4. Smiles
A smile is contagious. It shines with energy,strength, happiness, and joy. The more you smile the more you are happy. It’s difficult to be happy without having a smile on your face.
5. Memories
Memories are a double edged sword; however, the good memories are ones that are rarely forgotten and are often brought up when times are tough.
6. Joy
Spend time realizing what brings the smiles to your face, what makes you laugh contagiously, and what gives you that overall since of joy and happiness. When you are joyful, you are happy. It’s difficult to have one without the other. Having a fulfilled happy life means that you must showcase joy daily sharing with others what makes you smile.
7. Friends and People You Love Spending Time With
It’s been proven that you are the average of the five people that you spend time with. Are the people you are spending the most time with ones that help showcase your happiness? If you begin to feel happier with less complaining and have a better perspective on life, then you should keep those friends close by. We don’t realize how important it is to have others that help us see the joy and happiness in life until they are far from our lives. Keep those people close by and happiness will always be a part of your life.
8. Love
When you hear the word “love,” there are normally two or three images that immediately pop into your mind- the couple who is madly in love, a family that showcases love daily, and then someone who may have been scarred by love in the past having a difficult time accepting love now. It’s not to say that you have to have love to be happy; however, if you are in love, you should be happily in love. Happiness should exude from your relationship. You should want the relationship to continue and not be a drudgery, which would ultimately steal your happiness.
9. Cherish the Present
Make a point to realize that we are living right here, right now – not yesterday and not tomorrow. Things can change at a moments notice; however, when you live in the present and cherish the time that you have today, you learn to appreciate and be happy for things today. You stop the comparison with what happened years ago or what you wish will happen tomorrow. Cherish today, hold it close, and make sure that what you are doing today makes you happy.
10. Spontaneity
When you add a little spontaneity into your life, an adventure begins full of intrigue and unknown. It doesn’t have to be a life that is completely spontaneous, but even a slight amount will get you out of your routine and noticing items and opportunities that you haven’t seen before. Experiencing these new things will add more happiness to your life and you will branch out of the feeling that every day is like “Groundhog Day.”
11. Honesty
It’s hard to be happy and have a web of lies strung about. When you lie, you are always more concerned with who knows what or who can I tell this too. When you are an open book and completely honest, you don’t have to hide anything and don’t have to worry about who knows what. You are living today and can experience happiness first hand and feel like you can share it with others not having to keep it to yourself.
12. Choice
You have the choice to do or not do something. No matter who is trying to guilt you into doing something ultimately you are the decider. If the option will help you further your career and make you happier, then the choice is yours to say yes. However, if it will put you even further from where you want to be, at a place where you are no longer happy, and dread every minute of it, the choice is yours to say no. Choose happiness and you will be in a better place emotionally and with less stress.
13. Gratitude
I saved the best for last. Gratitude is so important to continue to gain more abundance in life and happiness. You have to be grateful for what you have right now. No matter how little or how much you have when you show that you are grateful, a sense of peace and calmness is present. You realize how much you do have and are grateful for. When you do this, you instantly become reminded of what makes you happy and how your life, even thought it may not be perfect, is better off than most.
Stay grateful. Stay happy.
Featured photo credit: Jeff Meyer via flickr.com
