Pursuit Of Happiness

Our lives are spent in the pursuit of happiness.

According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of international bestseller, "Flow" we often don't recognize we are experiencing peak moments of happiness until after the event. His research discovered that it is when we are absorbed in an activity that challenges and interests that we are at our most happy - however we don't realize that we are indeed happy. After the event, if asked to rate how happy they were, most people would rate themselves highly. They just weren't conscious of it during the moment.

In the pursuit of happiness people often go looking for the next new 'toy' ... car, boat, clothes, holiday etc ... and don't get me wrong there is absolutely nothing wrong with 'toys' I love them and have plenty of them ... but what I've come to understand is that it isn't the toys that make me happy.

Happiness is an internal job . It starts with remembering that life is meant to be fun, making the decision to feel happy is just that - a decision. Two people can experience the exact same situation and one can find within themself a place to find something good in the situation, the other can only complain and feel hard done by.

If is by feeling good about yourself and finding avenues for you to use your innate talents and strengths, discovering what it is that makes for meaning and impact in your life.

When you practice feeling happy regardless of the situation ... then you can truly appreciate the toys ... but you won't need the toys in order for you to be happy ... they just provide a wonderful backdrop to a life well lived.

Top Tips For the Pursuit of Happiness

• Do more of what you love and less of what you don't
• When you awaken in the morning count at least 30 things you are grateful for
• When you go to sleep in the evening repeat the morning exercise ... maybe a new list and include experiences from that specific day for which you are grateful
• Throughout the day stop and ask yourself "Am I Happy?" If the answer is no, then ask yourself "How Can I Get Happy?". If the answer is yes ... well that's pretty simple keep doing more of that  
• Make lists of positive things - for example if there is someone you are struggling with ... make a list of all their positive aspects. If you don't have the car or house you want ... make a list of all the positive aspects of the one you currently have - this exercises makes you grateful for what you have and eager for more
• Soften your eyes and energy and remind yourself to look at the situation/person/event through the eyes of love. I love this tip because when I remember to do it, it changes my perspective and all of a sudden the world is a much calmer, joyous place .... try it you will love it. Promise!

For additional reading visit my friends over at changingminds.org for some excellent articles on the pursuit of happiness.

May you have fun in your pursuit of happiness!