The good news about Happiness!

By Martine Brennan

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The good news about happiness is that it is not complicated. It is not difficult to achieve. It doesn’t cost a load of money. It is not something you have to put off until some future time

What is going on inside you as you read these words? Are you telling yourself “I really wish it was that simple!” It really is that simple. Happiness it’s a habit….. and like any habit it can be learned. You probably have the “worry habit” already, or the “hurry up, there is never enough time” habit. But I am sure you would rather have the happiness habit.

You can start today, right now. You owe it to yourself to take the time to do this. You deserve to live a happy life. No-one else can do it for you. Your happiness is in your own hands not in anyone else’s.
Everyday of your life there are little things that make you happy. You probably just don’t notice them. Do you enjoy your first cup of coffee in the morning? How about your walk to work or your shower or putting on a crisp, clean shirt?

Today, you can begin to pay attention to these happy moments. Better still write them down. Think of ways you can add to them. Would you enjoy your breakfast more if you got up five minutes earlier? Would you feel better heading into your working day having ironed that shirt the night before? Would you feel better and happier doing the school run if you saw it as an opportunity to tell your children how great they are or played a different game from “hurry, hurry, rush, rush.”

Instead of making a habit of having miserable days where you pay attention only to what you hate, what would happen if you pay attention to what you love? Once you begin to really pay attention to what makes you feel good, you can grow that into a whole lifestyle.

Would you like to have a life in which you feel fulfilled and happy? Would you like your happiness to spill over into the lives of those you love?
Then build that happiness one step at a time. Be a detective in your own life. Keep on asking yourself “does this make me happy?” and “what do I need to change in this area of my life to make it happier for me?”

Sometimes, it only takes one question to turn your life around. The question is, “How could I make this better for myself?” I am remembering a client who was the primary carer for an elderly relative. He found visiting the nursing home depressing. He felt obligated to visit even though his relative no-longer recognised him. As he asked himself... “How could I make this better for myself?", he began to see two ways that he could help himself. One way was to ask other family members to visit sometimes and the other way was to arrange to meet a supportive friend after visits. This simple change had a profound impact on him. He was able to visit the relative he loved and get support for himself at the same time.

The question for you now is “In that difficult situation in your life, what simple thing can you change that will make all the difference?”

Then change what you DO in your life until how you FEEL is happy. Life is not perfect by any means, and neither are we, but we can be happy in this imperfect world.