What are three things you can be happy about today? I’m happy I have good health, great friends and a career I love. This did not happen overnight. I cultivated these things over time, and it has become a way of life. While our lists may differ, these and similar things help us feel content. We all share a common goal in life which is to be happy.
However, that sense of satisfaction can often be fleeting. Many people can suffer from a negative mindset. Society often focuses on happiness stemming from materialism – from getting a new car, a bigger house, or planning an upcoming vacation. While these things can make us feel good, they are external and short-lived. They don’t stand the test of time, and before you know it, we lose that sensation, which leaves us seeking more external circumstances to lift our spirits again. The treadmill continues as we chase these fleeting moments.
In the search for lasting happiness, we must ultimately go within ourselves. We must actively develop our hearts and minds. We can begin to do this by exploring our core values and applying them to living. We need to ask what our relationship is with ourselves. Do we practice kindness? Are we compassionate? Are we generous and contribute to the well-being of others? Do we live in gratitude?
As we develop these traits, we will smile more often, our relationships will improve and we will feel a more profound satisfaction. By doing so consistently, our hearts will grow and our mindsets will shift.
Now, we can jump off the treadmill of chasing fleeting moments as happiness is no longer found outside of ourselves. Happiness radiates from within and becomes a way of life.
