Where Can I Find Happiness?
Happy people are fully aware that happiness is a choice. They know it's not a reaction to current circumstances. Rather, happiness is an option that's available regardless of the circumstances.
On the other hand, unhappy individuals are constantly searching for happiness. They think happiness depends on the acquisition of something different or something new. They are continuously chasing but never attaining. In fact, a lot of times, they search for happiness in all the wrong places.
In this article, we will answer the question: Where I can find happiness?
The Premise: What Is Happiness?
Happiness is an emotional state that is characterized by feelings of satisfaction, joy, fulfilment, and contentment. Even though happiness has various definitions, it's usually described as encompassing life satisfaction and positive emotions.
When individuals talk about happiness, they are generally referring to the feelings they are experiencing in the present moment or to a sense of how they feel and think about life in general.
Since happiness is such a broad term, psychologists and social scientists commonly use the phrase “subjective well-being” (SWB) when they talk about this emotional state. Subjective well-being focuses on a person's overall feelings about their life in the present.
The two major elements of happiness include:
The Balance of Emotions: All individuals experience both negative and positive feelings, moods, and emotions. Happiness is typically associated with experiencing more positive emotions than negative ones.
Life Satisfaction: This refers to how content you feel with various avenues of your life, such as your achievements, work, relationships, and other things you deem important.
Where Can I Find Happiness?
If you're searching for a reason to smile, there are some common places of happiness all of us share, although each is for a different purpose. If your life is becoming dull, here are some of the options you can use:
The Past
The Future
Home
Material Items
Close Friends
Family Members
Pets
Nature
Here's a closer look at these options.
1. The Past
The past is full of many happy and cherishable moments if you know where to look for them. You can get a quick smile just from looking back. However, if you dwell on the past for too long, you will miss a lot of what’s happening around you in the present. Remember that contemplating over the past isn’t going to bring it back. So, make sure to enjoy what you have currently rather than lamenting what you don’t have or have lost.
2. The Future
Your aspirations and dreams can turn into a reality. It is completely okay to think about an ideal future; however, it’s imperative to take actionable steps towards creating that future. Otherwise, your life will just become a revolving treadmill.
3. Home
A home is where the heart is. There are certain days when you just want to lie under the blanket and relax. We all need a little time to ourselves, and our home is the perfect place to do that. Just remember to step out every so often. It is easy and simple to connect with the real world while disconnecting with others around us.
4. Material Items
A lot of individuals seek relief in material items; however, it isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, a body pillow or stuffed animal is an entirely suitable short-term outlet for emotions when you just want to cuddle with something. While inanimate items can make you feel happy, you should rely on them completely. It still requires human connection to discover real happiness.
5. Close Friends
We all have some friends with whom we are really close. These friends are there to cheer us up, know all our secrets, and make us feel happy when we’re feeling low.
It is important that our friends keep us happy. It isn’t that we don’t sometimes need a reality check, and it’s totally okay to be surrounded by sad individuals. Nevertheless, you don’t want to fill your life with people who continuously bring you down. Just bear in mind that, at the end of the day, you’re responsible for your happiness and well-being and don’t disregard your own dreams and goals for the sake of your friends.
6. Family Members
A lot of people rely on their families in crises for practical and emotional support. Sometimes, they also rely on them for support when facing a financial crisis.
Family is a constant part in a person's life. Families even carry your history and share your future. Who better than parents, siblings and other close relatives to reminisce the fond memories of your childhood?
This connection to unconditional love, support in times of need, and fond memories is the distinct way that families can bring stress relief, a feeling of well-being and happiness.
According to research published in Marriage and Family Review, strong families have six common qualities. These include affection/appreciation, commitment, time together, positive communication, spiritual well-being and strong coping skills.
7. Pets
The only thing that can possibly make you happier than family is a pet. Pets offer unconditional love, enabling their humans to freely be themselves while always being there for them.
Pets even provide a sense of meaning to their caretakers. Cats and dogs give their pet parents the invaluable job of caring and loving for them, which comes with additional bonuses like snuggles and playtime.
Just spending quality time with your cat or dog can make you feel happier. For instance, as per a research published in Hormones and Behavior, social interaction with your dog boosts the feel-good chemical oxytocin, which in turn lifts your mood and spirits.
8. Nature
Surrounding yourself in nature, or even looking at scenes of nature, minimizes stress, anger, and fear and boosts pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature doesn't just make you feel better emotionally, but it also improves your physical well-being, lowering muscle tension, blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones.
As per a research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, spending time in nature can relieve anxiety and stress. While walking in a less-urban green space offers the greatest benefits, the good news is that even a quick walk through a city park can alleviate stress and promote calmness and happiness.
How to Become Happy?
Happiness differs for different people. For you, happiness may involve being content with the kind of person you are. Or it might be about having a robust network of friends who love and accept you unconditionally. Or it might be the freedom to chase your dreams and passions.
Regardless of your version of genuine happiness, living a more content and happier life is entirely possible. A couple of changes to your daily habits can let you reach there. Some habits that can help you kickstart your quest for happiness include:
Choose to be Happy
Smile
Enjoy Yourself
Exercise Regularly
Be Resilient
1. Choose to be Happy
The most important thing to realize about happiness is that it's not an outcome of current circumstances. In fact, it's the complete opposite – happiness is a choice. Practising this might be easier on some days than the others. However, you will never get there if you get caught in the trap of believing your circumstances need to change before you can be happy.
2. Smile
You smile when you're feeling happy. However, it's really a two-way lane. We usually smile because we're happy, and smiling makes our brain release dopamine. This consequently increases feelings of happiness.
This does not mean you must always go around with a fake smile. Nevertheless, the next time you feel low, smile and discover what happens.
3. Enjoy Yourself
Doing things that you like is great for your emotional well-being.
Simple things such as meeting up with close friends for a cup of tea, watching a football match, or going to the beach can all improve your day. Moreover, doing something you are good at, like dancing or cooking, is a great way to enjoy yourself and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Try not to indulge in things that seem enjoyable at first but make you feel worse later, such as eating junk food or consuming high amounts of alcohol.
4. Exercise Regularly
Exercise is not just to keep your body in shape. Frequent exercise can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms while increasing happiness and self-esteem.
Even a small amount of physical activity can make a huge difference. You don't need to scale a cliff or train for a marathon – unless that is what makes you feel happy.
Remember not to overburden or overexert yourself. If you start off with a difficult routine, you will most likely end up sore and frustrated. Here are some exercises that you can start with:
Go for a walk around the block each night.
Register for a beginner's class in tai chi or yoga.
Begin your day with five minutes of stretching.
5. Be Resilient
Resilience is what lets you cope with the ups and downs of life. Making something worthwhile out of pain increases your resilience.
Starting a support group to help others, or making something creative out of bad experiences by, for instance, painting, singing, or writing, can help you get through tough times and express pain.
Last Few Words
Fulfillment and happiness are within your grasp but sometimes a little out of reach. Knowing where to find your happiness and figuring out what works best for you is the first step to living a happy life.
If you really wish to pursue true happiness, surround yourself with positivity and look beyond your existing circumstances to the larger picture, both in terms of people and how you fit into the larger universe.