I’ll be happy when…
Everything you need to be happy
I’ll be happy when…
Happiness is an emotion many people spend their life striving to achieve. So what is the secret to the pursuit of happiness?
Was Buddha right when he claimed there is no path to happiness… happiness is the path?
Or was Gandhi more accurate when he shared happiness as a time what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony?
What about the Dalai Lama – Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions?
Or happiness as seen through Abraham Lincoln – Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Happiness is not a goal that can be achieved and then ticked off the to-do list. Happiness is simply an emotion that takes over the body and this feeling starts and ends with the thoughts you have in your head. So in theory, if you change your thoughts, you can also change your feelings and achieve happiness today. A few words can alter the mindset and therefore cause a ripple effect in the results achieved.
Think back at a time when you felt truly happy, at peace with yourself and with the world.
Have you ever said to yourself:
- “I’ll be happy when I am skinnier.”
- “I’ll be happy when I have more money.”
- “I’ll be happy when I am married.”
- “I’ll be happy when I have children.”
When you are living life choosing that another moment will make you happier than the moment you are currently in, you are denying yourself the opportunity to be truly happy now. The future moment may never come. The skinny body may never eventuate. The money may never be in your bank account. The partner of your dreams may never be found. Children may not be gifted to you. If these things never happened, will you be spending your entire life, the only life you have wishing you were living in any other moment than the present?
When Buddha talks about happiness being the path, it is the journey of your life. Through each moment, you have the choice as to how you feel about the moment and therefore the you have control of your happiness.
When the Dalai Lama says happiness comes from your actions, it is because your behaviour is a result of your perception of what your life really means. When you understand your thoughts cause feelings and feelings encourage action (or lack of action).
When Gandhi talks about the 3 elements – think, say & do being in harmony, it is the moment you are at peace with your true self and your place in the world.
Abraham Lincoln’s words are pure and simple – your ability to be happy is something you have right now, if you choose it.
It is easy to get confused about happiness as we have been taught happiness comes from external things. Advertising campaigns tell us that if we buy this dress, we will be happy. If we lose weight and eat these foods, we will be happy. If we have a clean house or a new car or 2.4 children and live in a house with a white picket fence, we will be happy.
I call BS!!!! External things might give us a buzz if instant happiness, or what we perceive to be happiness but to be able to wake each day and feel at peace with yourself and your place in the world ONLY comes from within you. AND the best part is you have the ability to be as happy or unhappy as you choose to be.
Do ever feel like you have been emotionally hijacked by someone? Are you feeling hurt because of someone else? Have you handed over your emotional life to someone else? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may be struggling with emotional immaturity. Emotional immaturity is when blame is the reason for the way you feel. It is someone else’s fault that you are feeling unloved, anxious or miserable. Emotional maturity is when you begin to take responsibility for your own emotions. If your thoughts influence the way you feel and the thoughts are your own, then you have the ability to take responsibility for your emotions. This concept can be a little confusing when you start to practice it but once understood, it is like winning the emotional life lottery.
Linking up with Kylie for #IBOT
External factors don’t create happiness but they can help!
Of course but often that is a short term fix and not a long term solution.
Lovely post. It is most definitely the journey, not the destination. It’s amazing how some people can’t see what they’ve got because their striving for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
I love that Lydia – that pot of gold that doesn’t exist and never will.
Happiness definitely comes from a deeper sense of peace and a sort of peaceful confidence. I feel like gratitude is the secret to happiness. Wanting what you already have, rather than that need to have what you want. This becomes easier with age I think. I do think external factors can help us. Having a roof over our head, food in our belly and people around us to love. The basics.
Wanting what you already have is perfect. One of my mentors said” creating goals from a place of abundance” and it has always resonated with me.
i have been guilty of this for years. Recent changes have seen me learning to be happy now, enjoying what the moment has to offer.
Forget the years gone now Nicole and love what is sitting on your door step. Perfect learning.
I really like this post.
I am pretty damn happy. I am surprised that I got cancer considering! (Still kinda happy regardless.) Love the quotes from the greats.
Thanks Jody. Cancer is one of those things. Who deserves it less than anyone else?? I got cancer when I was 6 yrs old and although I made a complete recovery, it changed my life for many many years.
For me, happiness is about finding acceptance for where I am right now and being grateful for all I have. It always seems to be a work in process because it’s so easy to return to thoughts of needing ‘things’ to keep or make me happy. While they can bring some level of happiness, I know that true happiness can really only come from within. #teamIBOT
I believe happiness isn’t something you achieve and that is it. It is a work in progress and some days are a lot harder than others.
For me it’s about defining the difference between feeling that informative tug of change when you’re not happy with a situation and learning to be happy with what you have. It’s a balancing act of feelings at times.
Absolutely, it is always a work in progress as some days or times in life are easier than others.
I think the pursuit of happiness is what actually makes us unhappy – I think having gratitude creates a feeling of happiness. I see happiness as a choice and where possible, I always choose it because being happy is good for my health. Saying I’ll be happy when is like saving fancy undies, your best perfume or an expensive dress for a “special” day. The truth is every day is special and it’s always a good day to choose happiness!
I love you analogy – I remember when my first was born and I used to save the special clothes for special days. Then she grew and I had barely put her in those special clothes. By the time the next child was born, they wore anything whenever they wanted. Life is too short to keep wishing the days were over and waiting for the happiness of life.
For me, happiness has always been a practice. Something I choose, when I’m able. I agree that things or milestones or events will make us happy, but if we are present during these wins, during the journey to get there and then we experience them wholly, well that’s something special indeed. Great post, Natalie!
Being present in the moment is so important to enjoy what life is offering. Too often we wish for something in the future and miss everything in the now.
So true that happiness and contentment are a choice, and they’re so important!
Being content and at peace with yourself is so important to happiness.