For the past couple of months we have been taking a journey together; a journey in pursuit of happiness. With this post that journey must come to a close though, as individuals, the pursuit of happiness continues – for all of us.
My hope is that, by reading this series on happiness, you have discovered some truths or tools that will help you experience joy on a daily basis, regardless of your circumstances; that you have come to understand that even in times of grief or sorrow, of anger and resentment, the alternative to living a joyful life leads only to darkness and the death of the spirit. Joy is available to us every day, in every situation, and the choice we must make – and yes, it is always our choice to make – is to seek it at all times.
Happiness is a choice – your choice
As we have discovered during this series, happiness is absolutely a journey rather than a destination but, it is also a choice. It is a choice that must be made by every individual on a daily basis. Some of us are lucky to be able to make this choice unconsciously, finding the good in everything and leading a joyful life as naturally as they breathe. For most of us however, we must make the choice consciously, deciding to look for the good and expecting to find it in spite of our circumstances. It is hard work, certainly, but the pursuit of happiness is very definitely worth it.
The good news is; habits can be changed, for better or for worse. In fact, research has shown that a habit can be developed within about three weeks of conscious effort. If you begin today to compel yourself to consciously pursue your happiness on a daily basis, to compel yourself to look for the good in every situation, within a month or so the effort to do so will become second nature to you, allowing you to enjoy your life more fully on a daily basis without struggling to do so. Doesn’t that sound like a wonderful way to live?
Use daily meditation to focus your pursuit of happiness
To help yourself focus on the daily pursuit of happiness, on your new positive mindset, I recommend at least one daily meditation. By clearing your mind each morning, before the challenges of daily living begin to compel you into old negative habits, begin your day by focusing instead on the things in your life for which you are grateful. Allow yourself to appreciate the good things in your life, rather than focusing on the negative. Be thankful for the people you love, that also love you. Be glad that you have achieved many goals in your life, rather than focusing on failures. Focus your mind into a place where you can accept that you have the right to be happy rather than doubting that you deserve happiness.
As I said in a previous post,
“Meditation is a wonderful tool for achieving clarity of thought and purpose. It frees the mind for new types of thinking and conceiving, as well as allowing us to be more open to our own perceptions. It allows us to be open to the joy of daily existence, and leads to feelings of felicity, or happiness, on a daily basis.”
Use daily meditation to let yourself understand and accept, to know deep in your heart and soul, that it is OK for you to be happy – every day.
To review the Happiness Series at your leisure, simply follow the links below:
Is Happiness a Journey or a Destination?
Finding Happiness vs. Being Happy
The Pursuit of Happiness Requires the Acceptance of Reality
To Pursue Happiness, You Must Expect to be Happy
The Eightfold Path to Happiness – Wisdom
The Eightfold Path to Happiness – Ethical Conduct
The Eightfold Path to Happiness – Mental Development
Focus your mind on positive thoughts; steer all actions toward the good; take others at face value; accept the world as it is; and allow yourself to experience joy every day. These are the steps along the journey you are taking to experience happiness as the wonderful journey that living your life can be.
If you are struggling with your own journey of happiness, and would like help finding or staying on the road you would like to follow, get in touch with me today.
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