Growing Happiness
Happiness is homegrown; it’s an inside job. Life will serve up wilted flowers but isn’t great that we can cultivate a mostly full garden of beautiful blossoms as we begin to yank out the weeds. Being present for joy is a self-care practice; you intend to show up for happiness and allow yourself to feel or experience the contentment of the moments. So let’s grab your shovel and get your hands dirty, and together we can sow a garden of happiness.
Bring to mind a time in which you recently experienced happiness. We know it’s possible to have those moments. Feel into that contentment and notice that you can recall that feeling by just remembering it. It’s important to know that happiness is a state of mind. Cultivating your garden is training your mind to appreciate the simple joys occurring all around you at any given moment. Happiness isn’t a place we arrive at; it is experienced along the way. Take time to observe joy, to participate in the joy. Okay, so I don’t want to sound all preachy, and keeping it real, we all know that life offers plenty of moments that challenge us. But is it possible to allow the weeds to take up more real estate within our garden than necessary? I think it’s easier to let the weeds take over because tending our garden can be hard work, right? But you know the beauty of a well-cared-for flower bed. Awareness of our thoughts and the what if’s or what was’s keep us from the present moment joy, and before you know it, your garden dried up and is all done growing!
Okay, so don’t let your garden dry up; try a practice of smiling. As you smile, notice how your breath and face feel. Try letting the smile go and bring it back a few times. Think of something that brings a smile to your face and practice being in that space; the benefit to your body is the same; however, it’s generated.
Get out in nature; there’s so much natural feel good in nature. There’s magic that happens when we are outside. Our lifestyles overload our bodies with too many positively charged ions that directly affect our mood. When we are out in nature where negatively charged ions naturally exist, those positively charged electrons are neutralized, and we can be magically restored back to a happier state of well-being.
Being in gratitude generates a feeling of joy, more resilience, physical and mental health, and happier social bonds. And as a practice of being intentional or recognizing the desire to be satisfied, visualize your happy day as you wake up. Wake up, try on your smile, recall something with gratitude, stretch, see your day as joyful, see and feel yourself smiling more, see yourself practicing gratitude, see yourself connected more to yourself and others, and declare what your day will be like. “Today, I will be happy.”
Laugh, cry, dance, hum, sing, rejoice. Don’t dig too hard for the reasons to be happy or why you’re not happy. Just try saying, “I want to be happy” With this intention in mind, you can begin connecting with the intention behind the words. Notice any feelings or thoughts of self-judgment and yank out those annoying weeds.
Gardening is hard work; your knees and hands can get dirty, but it is also full of small moments of joy, accomplishment, and appreciation. Life is happening simultaneously among the bugs, the weeds, and the beautiful flowers. Don’t allow yourself to miss out, train the mind to recognize happiness as an essential experience. Simply showing up with a thankful heart and a caring presence can sow a beautiful garden of happiness.
