Women’s happiness is declining. We’ve made gains in the workplace, politics and public life – but not in our levels of happiness. In our hyper-connected world our sense of self-esteem and joy can feel lower than ever.
Your level of happiness affects your relationships, your performance at work and your overall sense of well-being. When we choose happiness, we are choosing to show up the way we want to show up in the world. For many, life circumstances can be tough, and experiencing pain or suffering can make happiness feel like a luxury, or a far-off reality.
The pressures and increased isolation of our world isn’t going to change anytime soon – but you can. Rather than waiting for the ‘right circumstances’ to arrive, or somebody else to ‘make us happy’– we can create happiness now.
There are core conditions for creating a happier life and we want to share those tips with you. Read on for practical ideas to create more happiness in your life right here, right now.
Prime Your Brain For Happiness
Do you know when you feel happiest? What experiences or actions create feelings of happiness for you? Cuddling your kid, completing that spread sheet, creating your art, walking outside, sniffing a beautiful flower, laughing with friends…
These experiences release happy brain hormones. Often these are the moments that are squeezed out in the busy rush of our lives, or forgotten at the end of a full day. So, how do you create more space for the things that matter to you?
Do (at least) one of these things TODAY. Schedule it in! When you are crystal clear about what makes you happy, you can build more of that into each day, each week and each month of your life.
Decide To Be Happy Today
Don’t wait for different circumstances, “I’ll be happier when … “ or place conditions on yourself or others “I’ll be happier if…’. Make a decision to be a little bit happier TODAY. At the beginning of each day ask yourself ‘Where will I feel happy today? How and when will I amplify my joy?’. By identifying those moments, you are priming your brain to spot them and enjoy them!
Amplify The Joy
When you feel those moments of happiness through the day, savour them. Relish the experience. Lock it in your brain. Notice all the senses being involved. We have a negativity bias (we tend to remember the negative experiences more than our positive ones) so this is a way of amplifying the positive experiences in your life. At the end of each day, reflect back and take time to remember the moments of joy and happiness in your day.
Minimise The Happiness Sappers
What are the things in your life that sap your sense of happiness? When are you not showing up the way you want to? These will be unique for each of us. Some of our happiness sappers will be outside of ourselves. We each can have tough circumstances in our lives and varying levels of pressure and adversity. The way that societal bias and expectations impact us differs depending on our identity and privilege. Some of our happiness sappers are inside our own heads. The expectations we place on ourselves, the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘oughts’, the limiting beliefs, our own inner critic.
Start to notice the things (circumstances, events, relationships, your own thoughts) that sap your energy, joy and happiness each day. Notice what you are thinking inside yourself about these things. Write it down at the end of each day and you’ll start to see patterns. Some of these things will be outside your control and influence. You can then decide how you want to show up in that circumstance. If you’re experiencing tough circumstances, guard your heart. Dig into your self care and your practices to dial up your joy. Some of these things will be in your control and influence. You can then make some choices and decide how you want to show up. Where do you want to course correct? The point is you get to decide how much of your happiness you let that thing erode from you.
If you like this article, why not read our 20 tips for a healthier and happier you or our tips on taking better care of yourself.
Which of these happiness tips resonate for you? Let us know!
Catalyst Collective create transformational resources for women. You can connect with Katy and Fi at Catalyst Collective here www.catalyst-collective.com and find out more about their monthly How To series of coaching webinars – covering topics like beating overwhelm, living a happier life and also crafting a career plan, smashing your interview, getting more visible and networking without feeling like a fraud.
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Image by Jill Wellington on Pixabay.
I wonder if menopause is hereditary in its time to start. My mother started in her late 30s and I am finding that I am doing the same now in my mid 50s. Is it really something that can pass on through age by heredity?