Happiness. We all want it. No matter who you are– a baby, puppy, whale or college student, all we want is happiness. In other words we want meaningful and fulfilling lives. We can find happiness in many forms. It can be felt as we achieve goals, create music, paint, dance, write, snuggle with puppies, you know how it goes. I was inspired to write this article because of a TED talk that I listened to. The secret that was revealed for the art of happiness is one simple concept: mindfulness. Yes, this concept is more than a buzz word. Research shows that mindfulness does continually keep you in a state of happiness because you’re more likely to feel gratitude. And feeling thankfulness for your life is a good feeling indeed. Even if you’re in a bad situation, being able to slow down, be appreciative and be mindful gives you the strength to persevere through any challenges.
Here are some scenarios and ways that you can practice mindfulness throughout your daily life.
1. Wake up early in the morning to admire the peace and stillness of a new day.
2. Sip your coffee or tea a little slower and read something inspiring.
3. Do some yoga stretches and meditate as soon as you wake up.
(Meditation only gets better with practice so don’t give up on it!)
4. Make yourself a healthy breakfast. If you’re anything like me, you look forward to it the moment you wake up.
5. Go on a walk without your phone or music. When we get outside and look around, we realize how small we are and that there’s a whole world out there with endless possibilities. Now that puts things in perspective huh?
6. Eat your lunch with zero distractions (even books). I try reading a book sometimes as I eat and that usually ends up with my pages being covered in crumbs.
7. Read a book for at least 20 minutes, set a timer if ya have to!
8. Throughout your busy day, say a single word or mantra to yourself to keep you grounded in the moment.
For example, anytime I’m in a stressful situation, I say “focus” in my head and that keeps me from freaking the flip out.
9. Keep your planner and day organized so that you can fully indulge in every moment without feeling stressed or anxious about what is next.
10. Randomly sing out loud and show gratitude for your ability to use your voice.
11. Take a bubble bath or get a massage if you have the budget for it.
13. Buy a coloring book and whip out your colored pencils.
Coloring has been shown to have the same effects as meditation.
14. Play with kiddos.
I don’t think I have to say too much for this one.
15. Let yourself be lost in your favorite hobby.
There’s so many things to do and so little time! Get started on things that make your soul light up. For me, it’s writing, reading, cooking, and of course yoga.
The main idea here is to make sure that you fully savor every moment in your daily life. No matter what that is you’re doing, do it with purpose. Go about your day with intention and gratitude and soon enough, you’ll rewire your brain to be in a state of happiness that it deserves to be in.
Cheers,
Bella
*This is a revision article from my original one that’s featured on The Odyssey
