Do you ever find yourself feeling like happiness is something ‘nice to have”…a bit of a luxury even??? Putting off doing something that makes you feel happy until you’ve done X, Y and Z? And then time runs away and that happiness hit you were looking forward to just doesn’t happen.
We’ve all been there. We are all human after all.
In the current lives we lead it is so easy to be caught up in busy-ness, to feel that there is so much to do that we forget to make our own happiness a priority.
Maybe you’re focusing so much on everyone else’s happiness that yours gets sidelined, maybe factoring yourself in adds to the ‘too muchness’ you’ve got going on so something enjoyable feels stressful or maybe you just can’t remember what lights you up anymore.
If this is resonating with you, you are not alone.
You can convince yourself that you don’t have the time or that you’re too busy because that happiness you’re chasing requires effort, commitment etc etc. There are always reasons. But here’s the thing, there are so many ways to elevate our happiness and they really don’t have to take long.
And the more you prioritise doing things to make you feel happy the more inclined you will be to make more room for happiness in your life.
When life is feeling less than easy and happiness feels out of reach it can be a real stretch to choose to do the things that you know make you feel good. If you’re feeling stuck your ability to make choices that support you is challenged so you’re at risk of staying exactly where you are.
So start small. Choose simple things. Do them daily. And notice how you feel. Tune in to the energy in your body. Tune in to the change in your thoughts. Notice the difference in your eyes.
Here are 10 ways to boost happiness to get you on your way:
- Smile more. At strangers, at yourself, at loved ones. Just get those muscles remembering what it feels like.
- Do one thing every day that’s all about you. It doesn’t have to be big but it does have to be all about you.
- Get sunshine on your face – when it’s there! Serotonin does wonders for our mental health and overall wellbeing.
- Learn something new. It doesn’t have to be complicated but we feel good when we learn new things so go and find that thing.
- Look in the mirror and say I love you.
- Give yourself a hug, or better still a laughter hug.
- Speak kindly to yourself – get that inner voice on your side.
- Find something to be grateful for every day.
- Acknowledge how incredible you are. Every. Single. Day.
- Understand that happiness is not a luxury and that you deserve to be happy. You really do.
So which one are you going to action today? And what can you choose to do to elevate your happiness tomorrow? Then repeat. Even if it lifts you up by just a fraction, you are taking action and that is what’s key.
I’d love to know which of these particularly resonated with you. Drop me a DM and let me know.
Cat Googe 