Learning Happiness, Part 2

A friend gave me a bird feeder for Christmas.  Setting it up, I didn’t expect much as I didn’t often see birds in my yard. Then one day, I looked out at the feeder and was amazed. It looked like a big airport with birds landing, taking off, and even circling while waiting their turn to eat. 

Watching all the action, I realized these birds had always been flying through my yard, but I hadn’t been aware of them until the feeder gave them a reason to stop. Once I was aware of them, I kept the feeder full to actively encourage the birds to stop and eat so I could enjoy watching them.

I believe it’s the same thing with happiness. Every day we have opportunities to feel happy, but we don’t always notice them.  Maybe we’re too busy, distracted, or fearful we’ll jinx ourselves if we admit to feeling happy. Whatever the reason, we don’t invite happiness to stick around and consequently, it often disappears before we even realize it was there.

But what if we could attract happiness and then keep it around when it appears? I believe this is possible, but only if we increase our awareness of it. Here are three steps that might help you:

Notice What Happiness Feels Like To You

Everyone experiences happiness differently.  For some it’s a warm and relaxing feeling while others get energized. Take a moment and remember the last time you felt really happy. How did you know you were happy? What happened to make you feel happy?  Remember as much as you can about that happy time.  If possible, write about it.  By doing this, you are becoming attentive to how happiness feels to you.

Acknowledge When You Feel Happy

Start paying attention to when you feel happy, whether it’s for a long time or for just a moment. Teach yourself to recognize your happiness and acknowledge it. For example say, “I feel happy right now!”  By purposefully acknowledging it, you are training your mind to make happiness important.  So, the next time it’s around, you will be aware of it before it disappears.

Keep track of Your Happy Times

Keep a journal about the times you feel happy, share these times with friends and family, or make a scrapbook of special happy times in your life.  Be creative and have fun tracking your happy times.  By saving them, you experience the feeling of happiness all over again and reinforce your memory of being happy.

While it’s true that happy times, like birds, will come and go, practicing the steps above will help you create our own “happiness” feeder to attract them. Then all you have to do is become aware of your opportunities for happiness, invite them to your feeder, and fully enjoy the wondrous feeling of being happy!