Practicing Happiness: Your Natural State of Being
Do you ever catch yourself in all your hustle and bustle and ask yourself, “why so serious?”
Living in a culture that thrives on judgement and excess accumulation, we are easily influenced by our external environment. Getting so caught up in the beliefs and fears of others, it seems we can easily lose sight of what makes us happy and free.
When everyone around us is mindlessly cranking away on the hamster wheel, we see this perpetual anxiousness as a means to keep up. Our conditioned beliefs, that this way of living is the acceptable norm and the “right” way to achieve success, is by never being good enough.
These imbalanced perspectives are directly related to the dis-ease in our bodies. Our adrenals are shot, digestive systems a mess, and hormones have gone haywire. These common symptoms trigger a cascade of other health issues, some of which are a 21st century phenomenon.
We are, of course, attempting to heal these imbalances externally with supplements, fad diets and trendy exercise routines. But the magic really happens when we attempt to heal ourselves from the inside-out.
We have lost our sense of self because we aren’t doing things that make us happy; we are running the rat race because we think we should. As morbid as it may seem, consider that death is inevitable and none of us are getting out of this alive.
Now, think about life and how you want to live it. The only thing we ever have is the present moment. Here are some tools for practicing happiness and contentment in simply being present, and therefore alive.
We are, of course, attempting to heal these imbalances externally with supplements, fad diets and trendy exercise routines. But the magic really happens when we attempt to heal ourselves from the inside-out.
We have lost our sense of self because we aren’t doing things that make us happy; we are running the rat race because we think we should. As morbid as it may seem, consider that death is inevitable and none of us are getting out of this alive.
Now, think about life and how you want to live it. The only thing we ever have is the present moment. Here are some tools for practicing happiness and contentment in simply being present, and therefore alive.
MUSIC
Listen to calm, peaceful music at home while performing tedious tasks you tend to avoid; OR… Jam to your favorite tunes on your commute to/from work and sing your heart out! Singing (whether you sound like Beyonce or Weird Al) creates vibrational frequencies in the body that soothe the central nervous system and ease (traffic) tension. Ahhh….
UNPLUG
Limit TV/talk radio. Take a break from fear-based media/news, reality TV or any other source of entertainment that is based in drama, judgement and comparison. Overtime, these mind-numbing distractions we call “entertainment” impact our mental health more than we are consciously aware. This constant external stimuli creates neural pathways in the brain that trigger emotions like anxiety, anger, depression, loneliness and fear. Detox from the drama and the gossip and make space to heal your worried mind.
BREATHE
Practice being conscious of your breath…especially when life is tossing you aboard the crazy-train. Close your eyes. Match the rhythm of your inhales and exhales. Both are slow, focused and deep. 5-10 breath cycles 1-2x/day.
SERVE
Be of service. Be kind and help someone in need without expecting anything in return. The reward is priceless.
PLAY
Do something you enjoy. This seems to be a foreign concept to the rule-based, goal-oriented adult mindset. Rules and goals are nice but if you’re not enjoying your life, what’s the point? Give yourself permission to let go, have a little fun, and embrace your inner child. Your heart and soul will thank you!
COOK
Get together with friends/family and create something delicious. As humans, we are hardwired for connection and we know it is key to lasting happiness… So, sharing good food and fine wine (of course) with your posse is a natural catalyst for connection, community and friendship. Bon appetit!
WRITE
Get a journal and let it rip! Write down all of your thoughts, feelings, dreams, and ideas that come to mind. Let them flow without judging, attaching or averting to your experience. This practice is especially helpful before bedtime to clear your headspace and prepare for restful sleep.
OBSERVE
Practice being the OBSERVER. As evolved primates, we have the capacity to pause, step back and consciously observe the present situation. However, we often allow our primal “monkey” mind and our past conditioning to take the reigns on our emotions and behaviors- reacting, defending, attacking or fleeing from anything we find uncomfortable. Observation without attachment or aversion is not an easy skill to master. It is a conscious moment-to-moment practice of allowing peace and contentment to flow through you.
May you find happiness in the simple things. May your vibrant health be a reflection of your inner world. And may you enjoy the continual process of creating your beautiful life.
From a 2016 article for Inertia Health https://www.theinertia.com/health/practicing-happiness-your-natural-state-of-being/