If someone was to ask you the question “are you happy?” What would be your honest response? For some, the answer would be a genuine yes. For others, it would be a no or a yes that isn’t the true state of how they feel.
The truth is at some point in our lives we have struggled to find happiness doing what we love. And I’d know this because I have been there. As humans, we have a deep-rooted desire to live a fulfilling and happy life. But then sometimes you assess your level of happiness and find you’re out of balance. Next, you’re wondering how to fix things.
While happiness may mean different things to each person, living a life you love is attainable. Learning how to embrace inner peace, meditating, showing gratitude, etc. can do a lot of good in attaining happy living. And with some of the life lessons I’ve gathered along the way, hopefully, I can help you create a roadmap on how to live a happy life doing the things you love.
Knowing the Difference between Feeling the Blues and Depression
On days when I’d feel down, I found it difficult to get out of bed to shower, eat, or even work. At first, I told myself I was just having a few bad days and it would pass. Then getting myself to do the thing I loved became difficult and the feeling persisted. I also notice I was being very emotional about everything. That was when I realized I needed professional help.
While it is easy to shake off the blues, the same can’t be said about depression. It helps to know what your state of mind is telling you. Are you just having a few rough days? Or do you have extended periods of anxiety or depression? Then you’ll need a therapist to talk to. The silver lining with being unhappy is that it can guide you towards knowing yourself better. When you have a better assessment of your mental needs you’re in a better position to do what makes you feel alive and happy.
Learning to Unplug
It is easy to let technology, the internet, or social media take over your life. You could get so consumed that you begin to struggle to find happiness with yourself or the things you love. If being hooked onto the internet is eating deep into your me-time, work time, or relationship, it would help to unplug. When you spend less time with your gadgets, it can decrease stress, improve relationships, and give you an overall increase in freedom. Because how do you plan to find things you love to do when you’re stuck on your phone, computer, or TV?
Don’t get me wrong, technology is a good thing. However, letting it take control of your life can rob you of a lot and make you lose touch with things that make you happy. Using AI chatbot platforms that provide automated responses can make unplugging much easier. These automation technologies can free you from constantly monitoring work on your devices. Remember, there’s so much out there to explore and a ton of benefit when you unplug, for example:
- Your interpersonal communication and your relationships are strengthened
- You get to boost your creativity and focus
- De-stress and calm anxiety or fear
- Find fulfillment, inner peace, and happiness even with the most mundane activities.
Sometimes you might even need to unplug from work or studies. If you’ve got a ton of writing to do, take a break and get review websites that write papers for you for free. That way the job gets professionally done, even when you unplug to de-stress and renew your energy to do what you love.
Crystallizing Clarity through Meditation
Meditation is an amazing practice for my mental health and clarity. It helps me take breaks when things get too stressful or overwhelming at home or work. I realized that after a good 60 minutes session, I’m able to get back in tune with my inner self. The more in tune I’m with myself, the more clarity I get to help me do the things that make me happy.
You can start slowly and then ease yourself into it. First, get a serene personal space where there are no interruptions and you can fully relax. Start with short sessions of 15-30 minutes if you don’t have time to do an hour-long meditation. Listen to your inner mind and be mindful of your body. With time your body and mind begin to harmonize in a way that improves your energy and happiness levels.
Journaling Your Thoughts
Sometimes you don’t have anyone to vent to or you might not even know-how. Having such pent up emotions can be harmful to your happiness. One way I learned how to release my thoughts is through writing them down in a journal. It is an excellent way to help you ease stress, overcome failure, and improve your mood. Journaling is a channel to purge out your thoughts and emotions with a bit more clarity.
At first, it was a bit confusing knowing what, when, and how to write. Luckily I came across an article from the writing service website top writers list where I got useful journaling tips like:
- Express your emotions honestly when writing.
- Capture the moment as it occurs in your mind.
- Have a scheduled time when you write, early mornings or evenings work best to capture all that has happened.
- Find a serene spot to help you think more clearly and have some privacy for your thoughts.
- You can also choose to write in a diary, journal, blog, or, use electronic notes.
The benefits of writing are a lot. Besides helping you live more happily, it can relieve stress and anxiety. It can also improve your thought pattern and help you productively cope with life.
Showing Gratitude Even for the Little Things
Being consciously aware of things to be thankful for can improve your level of happiness. So, as you go about your day, always keep an eye out for the pleasant things in your life. Rather than dwelling on what you don’t have, create a conscious effort to be more grateful for what you do have. Being conscious of such things can help improve your level of emotional intelligence.
It could be gratitude towards the big things like a well-deserved promotion or even little things like feeling the sun on your skin. Whatever the situation or occasion is about, try to cultivate a habit of gratitude. So each morning and night, you should spend time recalling everything you’re grateful for. Just a little practice goes a long way towards making you more aware of all the positive things all around you.
Conclusion
Living a happy life doing what you love is unique to you. But you need to be intentional about doing what you love and attaining a happy life. Learn to assess your level of happiness so you can build on the areas you’re not happy with.
Take time to unplug from technology, meditate, and journal. Of course, adapt the habit of showing gratitude. This way, you can appreciate life and find happiness doing the things you love to do. And with time, you can answer the question “are you happy?” with a lot more confidence and certainty.
Tiffany Porter is a professional writer. She writes for different news portals and thematic blogs that help her stay at the heart of the programming and technology news. She also provides consultations and creates writing materials for the Wolfsden.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
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