5 (or more) practices for increasing daily happiness
If the world we live in is a reflection of our hearts, what kind of world do we see? Take a minute to notice what your world looks like to you. And now think for a minute, what kind of world do you want to see?
I want to see wonder, joy, beauty, love… so that means I need to live in a heart-space of those attributes. To have this type of heart-space, you can train your brain to NOTICE what is WONDERFUL about LIFE. Right now– do it. Notice…. hey, you’re breathing! You’re reading! (So this means you are not currently being chased by a tiger.) You’re in a safe space and you have a computer or digital device that you are reading this on. These are GOOD things people! So there is the start of a gratitude list.
If you want to see your life in this way, feeling grateful (which, by the way, can help you train yourself to be more happy), then you have to PRACTICE GRATITUDE. Practice it daily. Make it a habit, like brushing your teeth (and maybe that’s when you would recite your gratitude list to yourself). To make it even more powerful though, I suggest you write it down. Write down what you are grateful for. Every day. It could be just one thing. Or you could get creative, you could make a happiness jar, as suggested by Elizabeth Gilbert. She has posts of all kinds of jars her fan club has made- they are delightful!
You can also try out some of these wonderful suggestions by psychologist Elisha Goldstein, who wrote the book Uncovering Happiness. He lists 5 science-based practices that can increase your happiness (which would probably help your heart-space for sure!):
For me, this list translates to: Keep up the daily prayer/reading/journaling time, make art, go on dates with my husband, see my family & friends regularly, practice the spiritual principles I learn, take good care of my body by eating healthy yummy food, going to yoga, riding my bike, taking my nature walks, garden more, get to bed early enough so I can sleep well….stuff like that.
What would YOUR list look like? What kind of world do you want to see reflected in your heart?
I’m rooting for you to have a beautiful heart-space that reflects back more love and happiness to you and the world. You can do it– it will take effort and it will be worth it. You are worth it.
Peace be with you- Namaste!
