I am sure this sounds like a weird title for a blog post: I mean can there really be a step by step answer to this question? It is probably the most universally asked question and one that has been asked for as long as man has been in existence: How can I be happier?
Before I tried to answer that for myself, I guess I needed to consider ‘what is happiness?’ and what does it mean to me? How each person defines it might be slightly (or very) different to my idea of happiness, and it might depend on cultural norms and expectations of what other people want from their lives.
I have realised (because I probably always knew inside) that:
- I love being around other people
- I love learning and challenging myself
- I love to do things by myself and for myself
- I love being outdoors and discovering things about the world
So I make sure I do more of those things that make me happy.
The poster below from the Action for Happiness website (and others like it) inspired me so much, that I downloaded them and stuck them up on the wardrobe door next to my bed. The Great Dream poster reminds me to have an attitude of gratitude, connect with others, remember the highlights of my day, think about the new learnings I have had, consider any difficult moments from a different point of view, and visualise what I hope for the next day, all before I go to sleep. Powerful stuff!
Great Dream poster, Action for Happiness
Alongside the posters are my vision boards. The picture on the top right shows a dusty track running through a grassy meadow. In the centre is a heart shape (made by someone’s fingers) with a bright light shining through. This represents what I want from life. Lots of the other pictures I have chosen for my vision boards are metaphors and represent an idea – not a specific thing. As I fall asleep, I sweep my eyes gently over the pictures. Sometimes they are the first things I see in the morning. I think they have a very positive effect on me and contribute to my overall happiness 🙂
You can find out how I use vision boards here. You can find out how to make your own vision boards here.
Action for Happiness posters, my vision boards, and affirmations written out
Over the coming weeks, I will be writing blog posts on the subject of the age-old quest for happiness. I have been inspired to do this by reading information from the Action for Happiness website. I will be sharing ideas and posters from Action For Happiness to consider ways in which we can make our lives more fulfilled happy ones.
In the meantime, I wonder what makes you happy? What does happiness mean to you? How can you get more of it?
You can download the posters for yourself here.
As always, I welcome your comments and please share on Facebook or Twitter!