The Secret to Happiness
At the end of the night, when the lights are out and just before we drift off to sleep, we rewind on the day’s events. We either feel satisfied or regretful based on what we did to reach our goals. We take inventory of where we are in life and the achievements we have earned. A full bank account, a new car in the driveway, a promised job promotion. We base our happiness on perceived success. But life isn’t about big grand achievements.
That is not the path to happiness.
The secret sauce to finding joy in life is simple. It comes from having gratitude for everything life has given us: shelter, food, water and other basic necessities we require in order to sustain life. Being content with the things we already have, rather than comparing ourselves to others.
It has been said before, “comparison is the thief of joy”. As humans, we are often confronted with emotions such as jealousy, envy, and coveting. There will always be someone who has more than we do. The grass will always look greener on the other side.
But things aren’t always as they seem.
The struggles of day-to-day life are something we all dealt with at some point. When we have to pay the rent, but our bank account only has enough for the electricity bill. Making sure our kids eat, even if that means we go without. When the last $20.00 has to go towards gas, but a friend we haven’t seen in a long time just asked if we could catch up over drinks.
I know that struggle.
It wasn’t long ago when I was going through a rough period. Finding myself in a homeless shelter, jobless and penniless. I was still dealing with burnout. My mental health was in serious decline. The time I spent abroad did little to repair my life. It was only after learning of my prognosis that I began to appreciate the little things in life. Sometimes it takes tragedy to open our eyes to the beauty of living.
Birds chirping in the morning. A child’s laughter. Cute kittens and puppy breath. Ice cold lemonade on a hot day. Rain storms. The perfect song on the drive home. Watching the clouds go by. Star-filled skies. Splashing around in the pool. Hearing the ice cream truck down the street. Feeling the breeze or the sunshine on our face. The smell of fresh clean sheets. Enjoying a meal that we spent time to make. Wild flowers growing on the side of the road.
Many of us take these things for granted. Life gets busy and we forget to stop and enjoy what the world has to offer. Things lose meaning, a dullness settles in our chest, depression becomes an unwelcome visitor. Our satisfaction only comes from our productivity. The more we do, the faster we are to reach the end.
In reality though, “less is more”. Life isn’t about moving faster; it’s about slowing down in order to breathe deeply and let go of your anxiety. De-clutter your brain of any negativity. Give thanks for the day you have been given.
When your body is at ease, your mind will follow suit.
It takes time and practice to feel contentment, but your life will be fuller knowing you did everything you could to feel abundance and purpose. Joy and happiness will replace guilt and regret and you’ll be able to sleep easier at night.
Until the next Spark,
Kat
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