The Secret To Happiness

“The secret to happiness is….there is no secret.”

We have all seen those articles with that cute photo of a family, a women lounging on a beach or the photo of the perfect couple holding hands that claim they have the 10 secrets to being truly happy. 

I am usually left deflated when I read those - “well duh” is my only comment to - "be grateful”... “exercise”... "spend time with those you love”... pursue a hobby”….

I think a better question to answer and go after is - what brings you joy?

What I have noticed is that JOY is different for everyone - because we all have something unique to get from our time on this planet and we are all one-of-a-kind. 

Before we can aim for joy, it is good to define the difference between joy and happiness - which there are many. 

One that I love is from Danielle Laporte - 

"Happiness is like rising bubbles — delightful and inevitably fleeting. Joy is the oxygen — ever present.”

Another one that resonates with me is from Psychologies - 

"Joy and happiness are wonderful feelings to experience, but are very different. Joy is more consistent and is cultivated internally. It comes when you make peace with who you are, why you are and how you are, whereas happiness tends to be externally triggered and is based on other people, things, places, thoughts and events."

When I stop and think about the experience of joy, I think of when I am truly myself - no holding back. I feel confident, I feel centered and I am calm. Things click and laughter is abundant. 

When I am authentic, I am more apt to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and am curious vs. judgmental. Things are less personal so they can't trigger me as easily. This is how I relate to joy. 

So...my call to action is to be curious about who YOU are. Reconnect to your intuition. Let go of an external search for something out there because the truth is….you are the only one who has the answer. 

Namaste. 

Michelle

You Should Be Glad

P.S. I am blogging again.

Jeremy and I started a “Grateful 8” or a “Gr8ful” (as Jeremy has coined it). 

The Grateful 8 is a really easy concept to adopt for yourself OR even better may inspire a hybrid idea or action. 

Before bed, we each say 5 things we are grateful for. We take turns and it has to be something new and you can’t copy. (lol, my own rules). 

In the morning before we head out the door, we express 3 things we are grateful for. 

Why the 5 and 3? I made it up. Frankly, sometimes I need a bit more space between my workday and my dreams, so I wanted to load up on good stuff! In the morning, I am eager to start my day so we just do 3. Really scientific I know. 

Why the grateful practice? I was tired of my mind resting on the “could of’s” and “should of’s” an intense workday can create sometimes. I was wanting a shift in my mind to “what is right” vs.“what needs fixing”. 

We are just on week two, but I have noticed an increase in empathy and a shift in my being. I go into situations more optimistic and I am not in agony over life. 

Every guru will tell you that happy people are grateful people but until I actually put it into a routine, I wasn’t drawing that direct conclusion for myself. 

I will say that not being able to repeat things that you are grateful for has opened my eyes up to things I took for granted… (like the road construction workers who spend all day in the elements and traffic working to improve our streets!)

And now for the action item I bestow upon you…to make your own daily gratitude practice. Whether it is prayer, journaling or just sharing with someone you care about, let us all focus on the things that fill us with “g8ness". 

Much love, 

Michelle

http://www.everydaycompanion.com/lyrics/songs/you_should_be_glad.asp