Happiness in Small Doses

Happy girl riding a bicycle through the field, and looking at the wide blue sky

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been taught by everyone and everything around me that I should always strive for big things. Be a doctor, a lawyer, a millionaire. And it made sense to me, because if you’re going to dream, why not dream big? And so, I lived like that for many years. Until I found myself feeling unfulfilled. It was as if I was just waiting for life to get good, I wasn’t really living it. I felt like I was always chasing after something. A dream, a goal that I have to reach so I can finally be happy. But what if I don’t? What if I spend the rest of my life chasing something that might turn out to be meaningless?

So, I started to reevaluate myself and how I’ve been living my life. What are the things that make me happy? What are the things that give me purpose? What are the things that actually matter? If I become a rich, successful lawyer, would I really be happy for the rest of my days? There’s always the chance that I’ll become miserable; stuck in a profession that I might actually hate. The thought scared me, wasting many years just to end up unhappy. Then it dawned on me, the answer is actually very simple. Taking a stroll in the park, reading a good book, listening to music, and spending time with my loved ones. These things make me happy and what they all have in common, is that they are almost within my reach. Unlike a five-story mansion or a flying convertible, these are things that can make me happy, and I can experience them every single day.

When I look at it this way, it seems silly to deprive myself and choose to be all gloomy and miserable.

Happiness is Living in the Moment

Life may be tough but that doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and fulfillment in it! There are plenty of ways to pursue happiness and feel satisfied with our lives.

For starters, we can pay atention to the things we’re grateful for each day- even the little things like a warm cup of coffee or a kind text message from a friend. These small moments add up and remind us of all the good things around us. Another tip is prioritizing self-care. We can make time for activities that make us happy, whether it’s taking a relaxing bath or going on a hike in nature. We should remember that taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and mentally is crucial for overall well-being.

Lastly, we shouldn’t forget about pursuing meaningful relationships with others. By connecting with loved ones regularly and trying out new social experiences to expand our networks, we can essentially build a strong support system that combats loneliness and keeps life exciting. The thing is, happiness may seem elusive at times but sometimes, these small doses of dopamine can make us feel closer to attaining it.

Procrastinating Happiness Will Be Our Doom

It’s so silly to think that we procrastinate even our happiness.

“Well, of course, I feel miserable, it’s only Tuesday! I can’t wait till it’s Friday. Then I can finally have fun!”

It’s as if Friday is a magical day, a portal that instantly transports us to Happy Land. If this was our mental cycle all year-round, we don’t have to do the math to figure out we’re miserable for most of the 365 days! It’s a bit senseless to wait for a particular day to start enjoying life, don’t you think?

I realized I did have 24 hours in a day and in spite of the many many deadlines, I still have time to enjoy life everyday. As a result, I’m much happier. I’m still busy most days, but the big difference is now I know that no matter how hectic things can be, I should still find ways to keep myself happy. I should give myself a few hours or even just minutes of respite and do the little things I enjoy. These small moments sprinkle little bits of happiness throughout my day and sometimes, that’s all that matters.

Excitement Leads to Happiness

It’s always nice to have something to look forward to. It can be something big, like our birthdays, a new gaming console, or maybe a huge paycheck coming our way. But most times, it can be little things like meeting our best friend for coffee, hearing our favorite song on the radio, or eating our favorite food for lunch. Since getting excited about stuff always makes our day better and a lot faster, we can just decide for ourselves to experience that feeling everyday, right?

We can try to incorporate “exciting” things into our everyday routine. Things that we enjoy- things that make our days a bit more special and bearable. When we look forward to the good things ahead, we can pull through each day and realize that we don’t have to wait for Christmas because we can make the “exciting” things in our lives happen everyday.

Doing What Makes Me Happy- TODAY

Today, I chose to wake up with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. Why, you ask? Because today, I choose to do what makes me happy! Whether it’s dancing around my bedroom to music that sets my soul on fire or taking a long walk outside to soak up the sunshine and fresh air- I’ll embrace the simple things in life that bring me joy. I believe that happiness is not just an emotion but also a state of mind. So, when the going gets tough, I try to remind myself of all the good things in life and focus on making myself happy. And guess what? It works like magic! This doesn’t mean everything has to go perfectly for me everyday-because let’s be real, that’s not just possible. But what it does mean is choosing to see the positive side of things and consciously pursuing activities and experiences that make me feel alive.

Life is too short to waste time being miserable or constantly chasing after fleeting moments of happiness. In this pursuit of happiness we call life- it’s important to remember that true contentment comes from within us- by embracing who we are, flaws and all – alongside finding those little joys along our journey can lead us down paths full of smiles and laughter, hugs, love, light, and so much more! If you’re feeling lost among daily routines, stop and take time to breathe deeply and start asking yourself, “how can I find joy in this moment?” You might surprise yourself with how many answers come flooding through your mind!

Happiness Isn’t a Destination

Happiness isn’t something we wait for or work hard to achieve. Instead of constantly searching for happiness, we should focus on enjoying the ride. Life is full of ups and downs, but if we can learn to appreciate every moment, even the tough ones become valuable experiences. Sometimes it’s easy to think that achieving certain goals will bring us everlasting joy, but in reality, true happiness comes from within. The pursuit of happiness is not about reaching some elusive endpoint; it’s about finding ways to cultivate a positive mindset and make the most out of each day. Whether we find joy in spending time with loved ones or tackling new challenges at work, there are so many opportunities for fulfillment around us. Don’t get caught up trying to meet other people’s expectations or comparing yourself to others- embrace your unique journey and let yourself be happy along the way.

While life may throw curveballs our way from time to time, the ultimate goal should always be finding joy and fulfillment wherever we can. By focusing on the present moment and appreciating everything life has to offer (the good and bad), we can create an experience that leads us towards lasting contentment.

Final Thoughts on Happiness

It’s clear that happiness isn’t just some pie-in-the-sky notion- it’s something that we can actively pursue and achieve. By incorporating mindful practices into our daily routine like focusing on the present moment, practicing gratitude, and cultivating positive relationships, we can drastically improve our outlook on life. There may be occasional setbacks or challenges along the way, but knowing that happiness is within reach makes these tough times seem a little more bearable.

In the end, happiness isn’t a destination but sprinkles of smiles, blessings, and good things that make our days, months, years, special and worth living for.

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