How Happy Are You Right Now?

This post is part of  The Awakened Heart Project

Week 14: How Happy Are You Right Now?

“Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys.  If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.”

~Fyodor Dostoevsky

How Happy Are You Right Now?

With the crazy, busy lives we live day in and day out, it’s easy to lose sight of what really makes us happy. Answer this question: How happy are you RIGHT NOW? Do you even know? Is it difficult for you to answer? We often confuse our own happiness with what makes others happy. You probably know what makes your children happy, or your parents, or your friends, but what about you? Are you aware of what brings you happiness and joy? Awareness of these little things that bring a smile to our faces, and contentment in our hearts can be difficult to harness. Focusing on internal forces that bring happiness and joy to your life can be difficult in this fast-paced, external world, but knowing what makes you happy is critical to living a life of happiness. You must become aware of these little ingredients of happiness, and include consciously in your recipe of life if you want the end results to be fantastic!

Exercise Your Happiness 

This week the lesson is more of an exercise to increase awareness and increase happiness. Throughout the week, keep a journal of what triggered feelings of happiness for you. When you notice yourself smiling, jot in down and write about what it was that triggered it. What made you laugh? What warmed your heart?

Let this exercise help you identify what you truly love in your life. These are the ingredients you need more of. Add them to you life consciously, and be aware of them when they arrive. How can you really enjoy a moment of pleasure if you’re not even conscious of it?

You’ll probably notice that many of the things that made you feel joy were small things. Things like sipping a cup of tea, going for a walk, taking the time to arrange a bouquet of flowers, reading a book before bed, petting your cat or dog, gardening, going to the movies, taking classes, singing…the list can go on and on. Savor these small moments. Be conscious of them. Discover what it is that brings you joy each day. Through this exercise, be aware of personal preferences and learn how to recognize and relish in the unique moments that make you happy.

Reflection:

• What makes you happy?
• What did you learn from this exercise?
• Was it hard to answer the questions or easy?
• Did you find that you were already aware of what brings you joy, or somewhat unconscious to these things?
• How will you make time to include the things in your life that bring you joy and happiness?

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