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Searching for Happiness updated 8.23.21
Recently, a simple line drawing cartoon popped up in various social media feeds. One character asks another where she found the object she carries, because he’s searched everywhere for it.
I smile every time I see this cartoon, because of the object bearer’s response. My heart and soul resonate with an enthusiastic Yes!
August is Happiness Happens Month. It’s a great time to share, about happiness!
What is Happiness?
That’s a big question for people, down through the ages. Philosophers, writers, poets, artists, actors, theologians, singers, psychologists and countless others seek to define what happiness is.
What it is not is just another emotion, or a positive mindset, or a fat bank account. People agree that happiness is a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life imbued with meaning and purpose. However the road to happiness is different for everyone, as is the exact meaning. Living my version of happy may look different from yours.
Searching for Happiness – the cartoon that inspired this postCreating Happiness
What is essential is understanding that happiness is never supplied by an outside source. No one can “make” us happy or sustain that state indefinitely for us. What a heavy burden to place on another person. Happiness is something we create for ourselves, and it is sometimes hard won.
The journey to bliss might involve pain, challenges, letting go of past hurts and the need to control people and outcomes. As we grow in awareness, we grow into a happiness that is not dependent on circumstances or other people or what those people think, do or say.
My personal journey to happiness included facing and defeating fears, embracing my whole heart and accepting who I am, practicing gratitude, seeing the presence of the Divine in everything and recognizing that I am the only one who can create my happiness, which lets everyone else off the hook.
Feeding Happiness
In my state of happiness, there are many ways that I contribute to my sense of well-being. I regularly feed my happiness by doing the things that bring me joy: spending time with family, laughing with grandkids, gardening, traveling, expressing my creativity, cultivating solitary time, watching movies, writing.
Taking care of my health and wellness contributes to my joy, as do playful, ongoing conversations with the Divine, nurturing my dreams and walking alongside other people as they journey. Can I be happy and still experience sadness, anger or disappointment. Yes! Do any of those erode my happiness? No! Happiness is core to my being. No matter what else is going on in my life at the moment, happiness is what I return to. Like those toys from the 1980s, the Weebles, I may wobble and tip off my center, but I won’t fall down and stay there.
Defining Happiness
As I often do, I looked up the etymology of the word happy. It comes from the old English word hap, which in the 14th century meant “lucky”. The word worked its way into many cultures, however from the Greek to the Irish happy originally conveyed the meaning of luck and good fortune.
Isn’t it interesting that some still perceive happiness as an elusive state of being, and that only the lucky few ever achieve it? How empowering it is to realize that searching for happiness begins with a solitary inward journey, and creating it is the uniquely personal experience called “living our best life”.
How is your happiness level? Are you taking sole responsibility for your happiness?
Excellent reading from Amazon:
I’ve read both of these books…many times…and can highly recommend them. Click links for more info or to order.
Loving What Is by Byron Katie
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
Cindy Goes Beyond is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate program provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, all at no extra cost to you.
I’ve never been one to think of happiness as an elusive state of being, but I know several people who do. That is so sad. Happiness is so important.
It is!
Yes so many things contribute to our happiness and we can create those moments and experiences. We can also practice not letting the disappointments steal our joy.
That’s right!
I love that cartoon! It’s too bad so many people look outside of themselves and God to find happiness. It is an inside job and when you love yourself you will attract more happiness elsewhere. I love Byron Katie too!
So true! And Byron Katie is amazing!
That’s my new favorite cartoon!!!
I love it!
Happiness is something many people strive for and never seem to achieve. The past couple of years I have worked hard to achieve happiness and determine what exactly it is that makes me happy. Such a great article for other people to start their journey towards happiness.
Thank you!
I love this! Happiness is such a wonderful way to live!
I agree!
Lots of important life lessons here. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading!
Love your blog post. So powerful! We can only creat our own happiness. Happiness starts with finding love within ourselves.
Exactly so!
You are responsible for yourself…so simple yet complicated!
Yes!
Beautifully written! Love this article so much! Thanks for sharing!
Appreciate your words!
Learning to create and feed your own happiness is so important!
It is!
Great post! I am not one to dwell on achieving happiness. I have chosen to find happiness wherever and whenever. if you look… its there! That was an important and difficult lesson to learn, however.
I agree!
It is great that you have understood the concept of happiness. Most people are looking for situations to change for happiness but it is a process that starts from inside.
Exactly so!
Thank you so much Cindy for linking and sharing your post at SeniorSalon
😊
Well said. I tell that to people all the time. They are in charge of their happiness and they can’t wait until they finish school, get a job, get married, buy a house, can travel, retire the list goes on. I do believe people think it is outside of them. It takes work. Thanks for a needed post!
Yes!
Create your own destiny in all thing, happiness included! 🙂
Yes exactly!
What a wonderful, positive post! It’s amazing how when we focus on positivity and the activities that help bring joy to our lives, we can really create our own happiness. I love all the tips you offer and tangible things you do so we all have examples of how to create our own happy!
Thank you!