During our day-to-day life — and especially during stressful times — we need to remember that happiness is good for you.
A few years ago, I did a monthly post from the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. As fate would have it, our house burned down during my last postings. What timing for me to really apply those principles during that time?
I ran across a beautiful article by Kathleen W. Welch in a Unity booklet named Love, Healing, and Abundance.
I want to share her Happiness tips to add to your daily practice:
1. Get it into your head and heart and religious creed that it is right for you to enjoy things, that Jesus taught enjoyment of all wholesome activities. He used children as an example of the way to be carefree and happy and to enjoy life …
2. Make a mental list of all the things that have been given to you to enjoy and find happiness in—your home, your family, your garden, your friends, books, music, pets, and more. Then consciously learn the art of enjoying them by giving thanks for
them.3. Realize how many beautiful things are free gifts to us. Sunrise and sunset, the stars at night, the loveliness of moonlight, the warmth of the sun, all the beauties of nature … Free to be enjoyed every day of our life …
4. Realize that the greatest of all joys lies in making others happy, in bringing out the best in them, and in helping them
to help themselves … The simple, silent statement “I behold the Christ in you” will work seeming miracles in harmonizing relationships, bringing happiness to yourself and others …5. Cultivate your ability to see beauty all around you. In people, in nature, in experiences … Refuse to see ugliness, imperfection; refuse to entertain fears, anxieties, and doubts … On your choice hangs your happiness …
6. Show by your cheerful disposition, your loving wisdom in dealing with others, your willingness to be understanding and helpful that you serve a master who is love … Do not be afraid to be happy, fun-loving, laughter-loving. Happiness is good for you. Good for your body, good for your mind and soul.
I find that happiness goes hand in hand with living in gratitude. Happiness isn’t created by being grateful. Instead, gratitude creates and increases happiness. Remembering the goodness of everything around me creates happiness in my life. I do believe this is the key to all deeply felt happiness.
We can choose to be happy even when things are not perfect because happiness is good for you and me!