Are you happy? Do you have a list of things that truly keep you happy? There are many who would agree happiness is entirely dependent on success. Then in that case, how would one define success? Is it something measurable in mark sheets, wealth, fame, power, physical traits or love life?
A short-term thrill is often misunderstood as happiness. A salary hike, feeling of new love, discount sale, a new outfit and even a new follower on Instagram is counted as happiness. But in reality, they give us a sense of delight and quickly forgotten.
Then what would be the happiness that we talk about and subconsciously carve for?
Studies in the field of positive psychology explain a happy person as one who experiences frequent positive emotions. These emotions are not just subjective feelings but do involve cognition, facial expression, hormonal and cardiovascular changes. All happened in a short duration of time frame. The positive emotions resemble the positive sensation of content with a positive mood.
Some of the impactful positive emotions are hope, inspiration, serenity, awe, bliss, etc.
We often restrict our perceptive view. The world around us is confined. Cemented. The short-lived moments are termed lifetime happiness. Aren’t we getting it all wrong when we don’t feel the satisfaction every living moment? When following the tribe is the norm. Lifestyle with LCD TV, villa with a luxury car parked in front becomes a goal. An Instagram picture with all smiles with an exotic backdrop is the talk of (Internet) town. We would crib how fake others are and try to join the herd sincerely.
Can we be really happy?
It is easy. At least so in theory. All we need is to look outside the window. Happiness is not a destination, rather a journey with efforts. When we shift our viewpoint, stand and watch outside the window of life. We would see the freshness ignored till now. A change in thought process would reinforce the positive emotions over negative ones. Humans adapt and survive. We are neuroplastic. Long story short, we can be happy but with our effort. It won’t need external triggers. Rather it is an internal awakening.
How to open and broaden the window?
The window here is built up of our understanding and learnings of life so far. We see, interpret and dissect things according to them. Making the “window” of our mind a little open or wide would give us another view altogether.
Experience
We feel emotion stronger with experience. The pain, hurt, betrayal stays with us long. We are wired that way. It was a caveman survival instinct. However, today harboring similar negative emotions draw us to stress and sadness. We can’t change human nature but practice would make it happier.
Only when we work on accepting a positive experience and cherish them, we can absorb the goodness. Meanwhile, we can’t ignore reality. The key is not to mop over the loss.
Appreciate the experience and create a happiness booster.
Gratitude
Money, power, a relationship can be gone in a puff. But at that moment, we learn about the importance of gratitude in life.
Getting mad at someone and having a volley of words is a lot easier, than showing gratitude. Gratitude brings in introspection. It adds value to our wellbeing, emotions and mental health. It shifts our focus. A monumental one. We begin to see silver linings in every event of life. The optimism in us grows stronger. Implying direct results to our quality of life. Pushing us further in our life goals and dreams.
Constant newness
When we don’t jump out of the well, we can’t see the world outside. Ending up with the same knowledge and insight that was gifted with the birth suit.
The human mind is born curious. Chaining it with predefined notions restrict us. So, can we still add the newness? Of course, we do. Meet new people, explore a new place and most of all, accepting them without alterations. We all have a culture, faith, and value. When we mingle, we do have a difference but we do have bright sides too.
A new person can take you to the world of a new adventure, showing an entirely new side of the same story. With the exponential influence of social media, many speak how it rubbing us bad. But that what about all the things we learned from it. As a matter of fact, I got inducted to new concepts in my parenting journey like cloth diapering, babywearing and early learning through social media.
Even books have the power to transport us and help us grow.
Bring in the newness with travel, books, meeting new people. Appreciate and accept each as a whole. Step out of comfort zone often.
We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.
Khalil Gibran
I never knew there is a world outside until I stepped near the window and sided curtain. Do you feel the same?
I received this tag from Jyoti Babel at www.jyotibabel.com. It’s my pleasure to pass on this tag to Suha Vijay at https://shravmusings.com. There are 47 of us on this Blog Hop and it will be spread over 3 days – 2, 3, 4 August. Do follow the #WordsMatter Blog Hop and prepare to be surprised!
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Finally I am here following you from the Wordsmatter Bloghop. You have one beautiful inspiring post up here with oodles of wisdom. I do try to channelize happiness from within – i do fume and fumble sometimes, but it is always worth the effort.
Well said, it is necessary for us to step outside our comfort zone and explore more.
Loved your thoughts here. It is us who trap ourselves inside the windows of our hearts and minds and then feel suffocated. That quote by Gibran is perfect.
Well yes thats a very good take on this prompt. I think one should have the gratitude post which right attitude and happiness comes.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Judy 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Enjoyed reading your take on prompt, different and refreshing. I liked the pointers where we need to widen our window and gratitude is the most important one.
Thank you for stopping by 🙂
What a beautiful post, I absolutely loved reading it. One will truly be happy if they find that happiness within. Much needed happiness quotient for the day 🙂
Thanks for reading 🙂
In love with your writing. We often forget gratitude and get stuck with hurtful feelings. Great positive post.
Thanks Kinshoo
I so loved the way you mentioned ….I too agree that happiness is something when we learn how we can spread happiness by gratitude and positive emotions!!
Thank you Ruchie
Oh I really need to bring back some spontaneity by meeting new people! I like your idea of ‘looking outside the window’! 🙂
Glad you liked it Snehal.
for me gratitude has changed my perspective of happiness and contentment. how well said ” Happiness is not a destination, rather a journey with efforts.”
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Princy
Very well said Pragnya. I can’t agree more on this. I think happiness is a choice, if we expect more then we get hurt more.
Expectations are tricky Deepika. Thanks for reading.
This was a refreshingly honest take on the prompt. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
What a lovely post on how we need to look outside the window. I like what you mentioned – Happiness is not a destination, rather a journey with efforts. We need to awake our selves from the inside and change our mindset.
Thanks Kim
Thanks Noor
Wow! Such a positive read! Loved the way you explained your thoughts through writing. Impressive style, I must say! expressive & clear ?❤
Please accept my apology for not being able to visit your blog and read this post earlier.
Children, if one watches closely, are the happiest of lot in this world full of people. The only reason they are so because they live in a moment and always look at the moment with curiosity. They never fail to learn from every passing moment and also have a great ability cry as well as laugh, yet forget it the moment its over! Wish we could retain this as we grow.
A very thoughtful post.
Thank you so much for visit my blog Anagha 🙂 I feel grateful with your words.
How true, as grown ups we try being mindful being alert while kids (I see my toddler) so mindful of his work like watching army of ants crawling or trees swaying. Wonder where it’s lost while growing up.
This was a very thoughtful post and made me reflect. You are right that we need to broaden horizons, be grateful and and step out of our comfort zone. Thank you for joining us on #WordsMatter.
Thank you for your supportive words Payal. I enjoyed the blog hop.
You meant Parul, right?
?? Yes. Parul… I meant Parul ?
Happens! 🙂
Interesting take on the prompt Pragnya. Indeed one experiences life anew when when steps out of the comfort zone. Being aware and open to learning new things help out in opening the windows of the mind.
You brought out entire post in brief here Shalini 🙂 Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
It is a beautiful and and thoughtful take on the prompt. It is definitely food for thought. Loved reading it.
Thank you Anam.
Interesting thoughts, and perspective on what happiness can be 🙂 Enjoyed reading.
Glad to know that Vinay. Thank you.
Gratitude, positivity and acceptance of perople as they are! Yes, you nailed it.
Thank you Jyothi. 🙂
Loved your take on the prompt! It’s unique and yet you’ve mentioned many valid points. Thanks for participating in the bloghop. Hope you had fun!
It was a joy ride peeking through many windows Shalini. Thank you
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For me gratitude is a sure way to look beyond and appreciate all I have. Lots of food for thought here. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Thank you for reading and sharing your secret recipe Corinne.
Nice thought provoking post as to how to open one’s mind. You got all the valid points there
Thank you dear 🙂
I love your recipe for lasting happiness. Looking outside to find a way to inner peace is the way to do it. Looking for new experiences and practising gratitude are things I know always help. I loved this introspective piece.
Glad to hear that. Thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Loved your window of understanding and learning. One certainly needs to widen and open the mind’s window to explore and experience the new things and people. I have got opportunity in life to stay in new places every few years and seriously it has changed my perspective as i get to meet new people, new places, new cuisines, new traditions and more. Lovely post.
Exactly Pragun, when we meet new people we go from the culture shock curve to culture appreciation with acceptance and broadening our mindset. Glad to hear you thoughts.
All it takes to chance the view of our life in general is to just think outside the box. Do something or anything because you love it rather than to impress others. I love my life with that motto and it truly resonated in your words. I enjoyed reading it.
Well said Keerthi. When we work on ourself for our passion we reach the result expected rather a effort just to make impression might pause in between. Thank you for reading the post.
Sometimes it is very difficult to get out of a funk, find that inspiration, see the positive side. but yes with love care it is possible.
dropping by from the bloghop
It was a pleasure to join the blog hop, Suzy. We do need a light of hope with love and care to appreciate the positivism.
A wonderfully introspective post! The windows of the mind need to be open to new experiences, people and feelings for it to rise to its full potential.
Yes, just like stepping out of a circle. Thank you for your kind words Kala.
How wonderfully you have interpreted the prompt to delve into deeper thoughts. Yes, it is only when we look outside that we can find inner peace and happiness.
Glad to see you echo my thoughts, Unishta. In the end we want peace that leads to happiness. Thank you.
I like your take on the prompt. Meeting new people and exploring new places do make us feel good, but then for me being happy is becoming a challenge with every passing day,
First, thanks for visiting my blog Balaka. Being happy becomes challenging when we have an internal fight or we are pushing too hard for external factors to change, of course that’s my view. I hope you find happiness.
Well said. Exploring new things, stepping outside your comfort zone, gaining experiences truly help to broaden and open the window of our mind. Broadening our vision and horizons gives you infinite dreams, infinite ideas, infinite paths! A thoughtful and thought provoking post for the prompt!!
We do choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them by the choices we make.Gratitude does make us happier .Lovely post
Thank you Amrita 🙂
Dreams, ideas and paths makes our journey of life more defined. Purposeful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.