Hey there friends! I’m currently on vacation in Florida and just returned from a relaxing yoga session at my favorite local nature preserve. I’m feeling all kinds of positive vibes and despite my back to back plans, I wanted to take a moment to sit down and share some thoughts with you all. Seeing as it’s been a little while since my last Yoga Tip Tuesday post, today is centered around a topic that can easily be applied both on and off your mat. It starts with a simple question… how can you manifest happiness?
Happiness is a fickle thing. Too often we base our definition of happiness on our current circumstances or emotions. How many times have you said to yourself, “I’d only be happy if I got that promotion//had a better relationship//made more money//was able to take more vacations//etc.”
The problem with this type of thinking is that the longer you blame your unhappiness on something you’re lacking, the further you’ll be from living your best life.
Let’s face it, it’s scary to admit that we are responsible for our own happiness. It’s much easier and safer to point the finger at everything that’s not going your way than to admit that you’re not happy with yourself. That’s why I’m challenging you today to take the courage to be happy despite what hardships you may be facing. Annnd trust me… I know that’s much easier said than done.
So what are some simple ways to manifest the happiness that you deserve?
Give Yourself Permission
This may seem like an odd sentiment but I’ve witnessed this first hand from someone who is really close to me. When you make mistakes in life you may find that they linger in the back of your mind, haunting you and preventing you feeling any true, lasting happiness. It’s a continuous blame game and you may feel stuck, unwilling to leave the past behind because no matter how hard you try, you can’t erase the mistakes you made. I think we all have struggled with this in some capacity, but the only way to break the regret cycle is to give yourself permission to learn from it and move on. Don’t let the past dictate your life. We all make mistakes, we all have regrets and we all still deserve to find happiness.
Take A Break
Sometimes all you need is to get away from the things that are bringing you down in order to clear your head and refocus your intentions. If you find that you’re consistently angry because of your job, then maybe it’s time for you to take a vacation and reflect on why it’s making you feel that way. If it’s something that can be easily switched by looking at things differently then a simple break from the day to day may be all you need to feel happy again. If your job is making you absolutely miserable then maybe that time away can force you to accept that it may be time to look for something else. I’m using a job as an example of course, but this can easily be applied to anything in your life that is giving you grief. It could be a bad relationship, it could be a friendship with someone who brings you down instead of lifting you up. Whatever it may be, finding the source of your unhappiness is the first step to determining what you can do to change it.
Discover Your Passion
Many times we find that we’re unhappy because we’re simply bored or unchallenged. If you feel like you’re in a rut, push yourself to figure out what it is you really love and explore ways to make that thing a bigger part of your life. We all long to find purpose in what we do and sometimes all it takes is finding a new hobby or starting a passion project to suddenly feel more fulfilled. I’ve witnessed so many changes in the moods and happiness of friends simply because they found “their calling.” Whether that be a change in lifestyle or completely changing careers, it’s really incredible to see how people light up when they talk about something that they are truly passionate about.
At the end of the day, the string that ties these ideas together is the understanding that YOU are the only one who can determine your happiness. Believe in yourself, be thankful for all the good in your life and focus your thoughts on all the things that make your heart sing. And for a quick happiness fix you can always binge watch funny cat & dog videos on Facebook. That always does the trick for me. 😉
With love and light,
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