Happiness

Happiness.  Most people seek happiness as a goal, never considering that it is a fleeting feeling.  The transient feeling we get when we accomplish something brings us a flash of happiness, as does the tender touch of a new love, a surprise gift, or the heart melting sight of a baby’s first smile.  These moments feel happy, but the feeling does not sustain us.  True joy, and ultimately long term happiness in life, comes from a sense of well being and contentment with ourselves.

Much of life these days is a task of survival.  Job loss, difficult economic times, personal change and transition leaves us weary from the tasks of daily life.  Finding joy in life often gets forgotten in our chaotic existence. Building a joyful life that will bring long term contentment does not need to be a time consuming mission.  The pursuit of happiness can be accomplished with a simple plan that encompasses everything important to you.

Set aside some time and look at what matters in your life.  There are eight categories that can easily encompass life.  Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Financial, Intellectual, Professional, Material, and Play all make up life as society defines it.  Focus on each of the categories that are important to you and what would determine long term happiness for you.  Don’t allow the past to determine the future.  Perhaps you took a professional path earlier in life that just does not resonate with you now.  What can you do to shift that reality?  Maybe it entails some new training to change careers.  Perhaps you have a job that you can’t jeopardize the income, then how can you incorporate the passion for another career into the present?  Maybe volunteering or mentoring as an outlet for the passion while still preserving the career that pays the bills would work.  Looking at all aspects of life, including play and material allows a well rounded, realistic picture of life. 

            Shifting beliefs means looking beyond what is and looking at what you want.  Sometimes that means just wanting something so badly that you can tolerate the uncomfortable feelings associated with change and strike out to accomplish a goal that will ultimately bring happiness and contentment to your life.  When shifting beliefs you need to trust your intuition.  Only you know what is the right answer for you.  Take your life goals and build a plan.  Small steps to accomplish each goal will be easily attainable.  Then set out to achieve one small accomplishment at a time.

Working through all the aspects of a healthy, well rounded life is not a quick process.  However, balance in life sets the tone for a stable foundation to build the life of our dreams.  Happiness is not a destination; it is a way of traveling through life. 

Karen Crider, MA, TLLP, is a Humanistic psychotherapist in private practice at the Center for Creative Living in Royal Oak.  She works with clients to deepen their emotional intimacy with themselves and create meaning in life.  For more information, click www.centerforcreativeliving.com.

Comments

[jessica]

Most people seek happiness as a goal, never considering that it is a fleeting feeling. The transient feeling we get when we accomplish something brings us a flash of happiness, as does the tender touch of a new love, a surprise gift, or the heart melting sight of a baby’s first smile.
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Jessica
Substance Abuse Center