My mother always told me that the prettiest thing you could wear was your smile. I used to roll my eyes and think how ridiculous she sounded saying that. But as I have gotten older (and wiser), I now realize that she couldn’t have been more right! There is something about a happy and positive person that is absolutely beautiful. So I guess beauty really does come from within!
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for people to figure out a way to be happy from within. Too often people rely on material items or other individuals to experience bliss. Now don’t get me wrong, we can definitely experience happiness around other people and we can be content with the things that we own, but what is even more important is finding that inner happiness that you can achieve all on your own without relying on objects or people to bring you that euphoria.
You want your positive feelings to be consistent not fleeting, and real not fake or forced.
Use Notes
A forced smile can be spotted a mile away, just like that fake designer bag your co-worker tries to play off as real – busted! So put forth your best self, turn on that positive attitude and take pleasure in the little things that can bring a true smile to your face because honestly, it is the easiest and least expensive accessory you can get! So what is that makes you happy? I mean, really and truly happy. Self-reflection questions always seem to be the most difficult to answer but we should know ourselves better than anything else! So if you are having a difficult time finding at least 5 things that make you happy, do yourself a favour – start a happiness journal! I want you to do this, challenge yourself!
For the next week use that “notes” app on your phone for once, or even go old school taking a pen to paper, however you decide to do it write the things throughout the day that make you smile. What it was that gave you the warm fuzzies inside, the moments that make you laugh, the times where you had awesome positive thoughts – write it all down! By the end of the week you should have a huge list to refer to. You’re probably asking me “what now?”, don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. Take a quiet moment on your weekend, I find Sundays work best for me, sit down with a coffee, a cup or tea, or maybe you’ve earned yourself a nice mimosa (I’m not judging), now read through your journal. Relive each and every moment in your list, reflect on the items you have recorded, feel that sense of happiness being reactivated simply by focusing on all of the positive things that happened to you in the past week.
Use Goals
Now, set some goals. What are some little things you can be accountable for to ensure your happiness for the next week? Maybe it’s waking up 30 minutes early to get in a yoga practice before starting the work day, or perhaps it is scheduling in that mid day break to relax and refresh, or maybe you can take a few minutes to connect with family or friends, maybe it’s having that mimosa on a leisurely Sunday morning while being grateful for all that you experience. Whatever it is, make yourself accountable for scheduling that in! It is not your significant other, nor your boss, it is not your friend, nor your children, it is not anyone’s responsibility but your own to make those moments of happiness happen and to treasure them.
I promise you, the more you focus on all the positive things that happen, the more you will forget about those little things that don’t go quite right. In the grand scheme of things it’s those moments of happiness that prevail but you need to look for those moments in all that you do. If you try, and I mean really try, you can find something positive in every situation. It takes an active mindset, but I know you can do it!
Don’t tell my mother that she was right, but I’ve been wearing my smile for quite some time now and I can’t believe the number of compliments that I get!
By Jan