What Makes You Happy?
Hey friends. I had originally planned on sharing an arugula, goat cheese & apple salad but I decided it would be nice to share something a little different today. (Don’t worry the salad is cue’d up for Monday and boy is it good!)
I’ve been thinking a lot about happiness lately, for a lot of different reasons. First, as someone who deals with depression, it’s not always the easiest feeling to come by. I don’t mean that in a dark way. I consider myself a positive, optimistic person, but happiness isn’t a natural default. Lately, it’s been especially hard to come by.
But last week my trip home to Nantucket came at just the right time. I was working an event with Bai, as a sponsor of the Yoga Festival, and was lucky enough to listen to one of the opening speakers, Max Strom. He spoke about happiness in our culture. One of the things that stood out to me most was his question to the audience. “What makes you happy?” Not just in the sense of what brings you pleasure, but what gives your life meaning. And not only that question, but how rarely our society asks it. We ask what it means to be “successful” (whatever that means) but we rarely talk about happiness. It’s a tough question. I don’t think we ask it enough. Of ourselves. Of others.
Personally, when I struggle with my own depression, I grasp desperately at anything that might spark happiness again however fleeting, but I think it’s important to take a step back more often and take stock in how (or whether) what I do every day is helping contribute to that more meaningful happiness. Versus thinking about happiness only when it alludes me.
It’s one thing to know what makes me happy. It’s another to take an honest look and see how much of what I really do, fits into that definition. And how much of what I do just doesn’t serve me (or anyone else.)
So I asked myself that question. “What makes me happy?” In my own pondering, I came up with 3 big ones.
The 1st: I find happiness through using my own experiences and knowledge to help, teach and empower others.
The 2nd: I find happiness in creating things, whether that’s a recipe, a photograph, a design, a piece of art.
The 3rd: I find happiness in situations where I can grow, challenge myself and learn.
There’s also some profound happiness in the simplicity of unplugging and being present. (so I cheated, that’s 4)d Something I don’t do nearly enough. This past weekend I found happiness in a lot of small moments. So I thought I’d share some…
Happiness is…
…salt air
…going out of your way for someone
…the warmth of the sun cut by an ocean breeze
…a perfectly crisp and buttery scone
…breaking your routine
…the feeling you get after doing the harder thing because you know you can
…being with a friend on their birthday
…a reminder you’re not alone
…a joke that can interrupt the tears
…a shooting star
…the feeling you get when your dog sees you and does her happy wiggle
Your Turn:
- What makes you happy (it can be a little or BIG thing)?
Reading posts like these make me happy 🙂 But really…simply being with my family, spending time outside under the sun and belly laughing with a friend make me happy.
All fantastic things! Honestly a good laugh (or cry) can be so refreshing/cleansing especially when it’s with good friends or family
I like to take note of something in the day that makes me smile and tickles my imagination-grandad called it his ‘pumkim of the day’. Like yesterday I saw some heart balloons flying high in the sky in the distance. It made me wonder whether someone had released them as a romantic gesture.
I love the “pumpkin of the day” whenever we’re with our Dad we always make a point to talk about our pumpkins.
Happiness for me is being surrounded by family and friends. Even if there is a distance, knowing that there is always someone there for me brings me happiness.
Yes! Connection is so important. Spending time with family makes me feel so safe
Love this post! I really try to find one thing every day that makes me smile. I’m in a much different place than I was a few months ago and it’s nice to recognize these things. One really small thing that makes me happy is just laughing with others. I have one friend at work that just gets me and I get him. It’s awesome. Always look forward to chatting every day! Have a great weekend! 🙂
That’s so great to hear Lindsay that you’re in a better place right now. Taking time to feel gratitude definitely helps me with my happiness. Having a good friend at work is such a game changer.
This post made me happy. Something I definitely need to work on is stopping to think about what makes me happy. Here are a few: the feeling of separating from my phone and being present with others; my dog when he stares at me to give him food; the feeling of accomplishment; peanut butter. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post <3
Yes! Love ditching my phone. I get twinges when I feel the urge to look at it but when I can remove myself it feels amazing. I remember those moments so much more. Dogs are such balls of joy.
I love this – I’ve been thinking about happiness and what gives our lives purpose and meaning a lot lately, and I think it’s essential for everyone to take a step back to consider.
Totally! Plus things that bring you happiness and meaning are subject to change over time, so it’s good to stop and evaluate once in a while
This is so perfect! We need to remind ourselves what does really make us feel good and happy and do that! Stop doing the things that bring us down!
Exactly – it definitely helps identify the things that don’t serve you (or others) any more
It’s so true that true happiness isn’t a thing thats really talked about. Sure superficial happiness can be found everywhere. But I feel like most people don’t really know what true happiness is. For me it’s a bouquet of flowers, the way my dog looks at me, a nice sunset, a run on the beach, a few glasses of wine with friends. 🙂
Wine with friends is literally liquid laughter. I love that feeling of not needing to check the time and just live in the moment
Happy dog wiggles are THE BEST! <3
Dogs are furry balls of happiness.
Your 1, 2, and 3 all rang true for me. For me, being surrounded by people I love – my family and friends – is another huge thing. I love reading posts like this. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Ellen! So nice to be able to connect with readers/fellow bloggers <3
I love how the whole yoga festival weekend seemed to be about “happiness”. Everyone was talking about it and that was AWESOME! Max’s speech was so good and #happiness has been on my mind a lot since his talk and all week. It is a very big and powerful word. Happy Weekend friend! xoxo
There were just so many positive vibes flowin’ that whole weekend <3 Cheers to more weekends like that in the future
I love this so much. First off, I agree with you – I too don’t necessarily default to happy. I’m just not wired that way. But I’m happiest during moments of calm and simplicity. Downtime without any impending to-dos, reflective alone time, physical activity (be it exercise or play) and having an idea start off in my head, that comes to life often in the form of recipes/photos are a few things that make me happy.
Oo I love that feeling of purpose and creativity. For me being able to make/build/create/craft something is so rewarding even if the final product isn’t perfect the process is so satisfying.
I’m so glad you clarified this idea so well, here. I find i get caught up in the day-to-day and forget take time to reflect, and think about the ‘pumpkins’ from each day….they add up to the big happy that, as you pointed out, give our lives meaning.
this morning, I turned the sadness of discovering something had chomped on my tomatoes , into happiness by following thru on getting some extra netting to wrap around my raised beds of veggies 😀
also, helping others when I really have the time to lend a hand, makes me happy
Thanks for helping me be more mindful
You’re always so generous with your time and you’ve always been a role model for generosity of time/spirit <3
Happiness is being with people who love to laugh! Laughing friends are my favorite 🙂
Laughing is the best feeling! Probably why I listen to stand up comedy on Pandora all day 😀
yes, so true. and it’s all the little things that add up to one BIG HAPPY thing. You’re heart, your soul, your spirit is fed.
I love this post. I’m always spouting about how I want to be happy, just to do things that make you happy, etc. that the other day I just sat down and evaluated about what actually does. It’s always good to check-in because you are always changing!
This post was so helpful! Thank you so much. Sometimes happiness really is just about looking at the smaller things & realizing that they are the big things!
So well put Elisabeth! Thank you for reading