Happiness, Purpose and Meaning
Monthly Insights – July 2024
Happiness, purpose and meaning are interconnnected. Happiness begins within to create a state of contentment and calm. But there are several elements that contribute to that sense of well-being and fulfillment. I’ll cover a few here.
Positive relationships bring a sense of connection and belonging with a sense of love and compassion. We can feel good or less than good! When relationships are difficult or negative the happiness factor drops substantially. This is why it’s important to surround your self with positive people who inspire and leave you feeling good about yourself, and them feeling good about themselves. Of course there will always be relationships that leave you feeling exhausted as you practice non-judgement and acceptance. Many times it makes sense to reduce time spent from these depleting relationships, but that cannot always be done, so be kind and gentle with yourself.
Your happiness is just as important as everyone else’s happiness.
Setting Clear Boundaries
When boundaries are weak, you easily fall into a pattern of forgetting about yourself. Your life may feel out of balance with a lingering resentment underneath.
It takes courage and love to make your needs a priority. Nowhere is it written that you should give up parts of yourself so someone else feels complete. While having a desire for others to be happy is important, it can prevent you from having your own happiness.
The journey inwards highlights what is unfolding within the self. By calming the mind, body and emotions, you are able to arrive at what really matters to you. It might surprise you to discover there is a playful, creative and adventurous side to you that has been set aside too long. Acknowledging this part of your soul is vital to your evolution and the well-being of others!
Are you living your life, or someone else’s?
It is common to discover at some point in your life that you aren’t living your own life. You’ve fallen into living for the ideals of others, or following the most common path.Then one day you realize your aren’t happy. It’s like a wake-up call asking you to remember who you wanted to be. It’s time to refocus.
Change
Let’s say you realize something needs to change. This doesn’t mean leaving your family, or selling all your ‘things’. Taking responsibility is about honouring your life decisions and those affected by those decisions. But there must be room for those dreams and things you want to do for you.
Purpose and Meaning
Align with your purpose to discover meaning.
Aligning with your purpose significantly improves your happiness levels. Notice how you feel throughout the day. There are things that need to be done that aren’t high on the ‘joyful’ scale yet they leave you feeling good once they are done. Things like laundry and taking out the garbage are great examples. Eventually they need to be done, so consider your mindset while doing them so you have peace of mind later.
Understanding your purpose gives way to raising your happiness levels.
Purpose and meaning could come through work, hobbies, or anything that feels fulfilling. It is natural to want to contribute to something larger than oneself, often through volunteering, or helping others. Your purpose reaches further than you will ever know. Practicing gratitude with a positive mindset of optimism connects you with your passion and happiness.
True happiness begins within and is enhanced through positive relationships, and aligning with your purpose to live a balanced life.
Embrace change and find your happiness. You might be suprised at what small shift can change your entire experience.
Thanks for reading this article and hope to see you soon in a live class! Regina
Regina Kaiser
