Happiness is important. Living a happy life helps us to become more compassionate and healthier.
Not only emotionally but also physically.
Although we would like to be happy all the time, a happy life comes with its challenges.
Take a look at yourself. Which version of yourself do you like better, the happy version of you or the version that’s not so happy?
For me the answer is simple, I like myself and others so much better when we’re happy!
Happiness stimulates our productivity, we’re more energetic, creative and so much more fun to be around. We can take on life much easier when we’re happy.
Plus, it also helps us to achieve our personal ambitions and goals. That’s why for me it’s worth facing my challenges and work on them.
Our “Happy” Lives
In my training about happiness I learned that there are three different pathways to living a happy life.
The Pleasant Life
This kind of happiness comes from material and external happiness.
Be aware that this life can be challenging because you will always need more and more of that kind of happiness. Plus, disappointment is always right there around the corner.
The Good Life
When you’re living the good life, you’re mostly being in flow with yourself.
You’re being the authentic you.
The Meaningful Life
In this kind of life you’re focusing on contributing, on making an impact. Not only on yourself, but also the people around you. Living the meaningful life helps to get you in a state of gratitude.
Know that all three pathways are good, there is no “wrong” life!
It’s just that one life can come with more challenges than the other if you’re looking for experiencing happiness on a consistent base.
Our Challenges to Happiness
So, what challenges our happy lives?
There are quite a few challenges finding the happiness we want.
Let me sum the most important ones up for you.
Addiction to Drama
Don’t laugh, it’s true! We all love some drama from time to time.
Why? Drama releases adrenaline. It gives us purpose; it gives us meaning and it connects us with other people.
Comfort
Already knowing what’s going to happen can give us comfort. It can make us feel at ease and how wonderful is it that you don’t have to worry about things?
Yes, for someone like me (who definitely worries a lot) comfort can be one of my challenges 😉
Set-points
Our dominant emotions, heredity and personality traits that we developed within us growing up have a big influence on us. They can change through life events but it can be a challenge, especially when you’re not aware of them.
Triggers
We all have them. Remember that time that you were perfectly happy and all of a sudden that changed because of a song on the radio? There are so many things that can trigger negative emotions based on our experiences. Music for one and also environments.
The good thing is, it also works in a positive way!
Thoughts
People think in a certain way. It’s something they developed growing up and because they spent years thinking in a certain way, it’s not something you can change with a simple “30-day happiness challenge”.
Lack of Motivation
People like results. If possible, rather sooner than later. Being happy in a fulfilling way is a process and it’s important to keep focusing on the benefits when challenges are met along the way. Otherwise, you may lose your motivation or maybe start to believe that it’s not possible.
Now we don’t want that to happen, do we?
Unleash your joy!
Despite our belief systems, patterns, and any other obstacles, IT IS possible for all us to truly experience happiness on a consistent basis.
The most important thing is that you need to be willing to put in the work.
Now don’t worry, you don’t have to go big.
It’s the small changes that are going to produce the best results.
Becoming aware of one of the challenges that I mentioned above is a very good start.
A brave one too!
Changing things that you have always done in a certain way can be hard and scary as well.
Trust me, I know! Comfort was the first challenge I took on and over the past few years, I think I did a pretty good job getting myself out of my comfort zone.
You can read all about how I got comfortable failing in my post How losing can make you feel like an absolute winner!
Keep the challenges in your mind over the next couple of days and ask yourself what’s holding you back to feel happy? Try to identify your challenge and think of small changes you can make in your life.
It’s the small changes that you are going to learn to build on to create happiness.
If you would like to join my journey in sharing happiness, make sure to follow my Facebook page “Happy Things in Life” or my Instagram “happythings.inlife“.
I am just getting started and will try to share a bit of happiness every day.
Wishing you all a very happy day,
Claudia