Is the grass always greener over there?
Sometimes we think it is. And, maybe sometimes it actually is. But, the more I think about life lately and the moments where I’m truly happy, I’m quick to realize how happiness is actually much more a state of being than a place, a person, a job or a thing.
I used to live in Southern California. The sun was always shining. It did so much for my mental state knowing I would rise to sunshine and blue skies each and every morning. When I moved back to Massachusetts in the winter of 2020, I had a big reality check. Happiness wasn’t going to equal sunny skies. It was going to take more internal work. It was going to mean a new definition.
For me, my ah-hah moment came when I thought, happiness is when all the things in my life feel in harmony. When my personal life, career, family and routines are in sync, I feel at ease and, in turn, happy. It could be the Libra in me, but I’m assuming many of you know this joyful sense of harmony when it hits you. It’s almost like you’re dancing through the day. Nothing can bring you down.
There are simple ways to tap into happiness if it’s not always easy for you to find. Some of my favorite ways to get centered and find some joy are: meditation, walking, making a gratitude list, and staying present. It’s easy to let the good moments slip by when we are distracted and powering through our day. I’ve found that savoring the good by slowing down — like sipping a hot cup of coffee, enjoying a fancy dinner with friends, or feeling the rain on your skin — can bring you right into the present moment where you can appreciate and live in it fully.
Life is busy. Life is messy. And yes, life can be quite unhappy at times. That’s why I feel so strongly that we have to find harmony and sit in it for a while. Undisturbed. And, completely unafraid of accepting it. Dare I say… we deserve it?
So, when was the last time you were truly happy?
I hope with a little perspective you can pinpoint happiness in your day-to-day life rather than seeing it as a destination waiting for you.
Happiness is in you.
