by: Brenda Davis
In the world that we live in today, it is too easy to become overwhelmed by it all with our busy schedules and reports from the daily news. Negative thinking can infiltrate even the most positive minds when we start to focus on all of the daily challenges that we face.
But when we choose to keep our focus on what makes us happy, we begin to shift the energy back to the positive. Finding something to be happy about each day is the first step in making this happen. Once we do this, we can see that being alive is truly a wonderful gift that is meant to be enjoyed and savored.
There is always something that we can think about to be happy about.
You may choose to remember a life-changing event such as the birth of a child. You may find your happiness in receiving a cup of your favorite coffee while enjoying the aroma and flavor of the brew. You might catch a glimpse of a beautiful sparkle of light shining through a piece of colored glass.
If you find yourself unable to bring up a happy memory or are unable to enjoy a simple pleasure, you need to take the time to examine what is blocking you from experiencing your happiness.
Keeping a happiness or gratitude journal may help you take that first step.
Each evening before you go to bed, write down in your journal a happy thought, memory or experience. Include the emotions that arise as you consider these thoughts and events. This may give you the insight into the factors that are compelling you to resist your happiness.
Happiness doesn’t always come easily into our lives. You might have been conditioned by society to believe that you are not worthy of happiness unless you have achieved certain expectations. So thoughts of happiness can actually trigger feelings of anger, guilt, fear and/or sadness. Accept that you have the power to choose happiness over unhappiness every day of your life. Each day make a conscious choice to discover a new source of happiness. It may not be easy at first, but eventually the idea of happiness will find its way into your heart.
Find one thing that makes you happy today and smile!
