There are many reasons to be happy with one’s lot in life, and then there may be some that make you feel unhappy about it. But when asked, most of us just want to be happy – to have someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to. We’d all like to be healthy, financially secure, connected and satisfied. So how do we achieve and maintain a consistently happy frame of mind?
To be happy moment-by-moment is not as difficult as you may think. It’s actually our natural state of being. It’s quite normal to have positive levels of happiness and contentment. As individuals we’re very resilient and able to bounce back readily when bad things drag our spirits down.
For years a friend found it difficult to retain happiness. Even little things that went wrong would instantly plunge him into prolonged unhappiness. This changed when he learned to think spiritually about himself. It seemed entirely probable to him that a divine Creator had ‘programmed’ him to not only be happy but to stay happy. Possessing resilient, balanced thinking, was actually native to him and everyone, thus he could resist becoming unhappy. This change in thinking had a positive effect. Things, big or little, ceased to drag him down into depression, and he went on to be a normally happy person.
4 TIPS TO BE HAPPY:
- Think of happiness as a spiritual quality that resides permanently in your heart and mind. You have it and you can also share it with others. “Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it.” Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health p. 57:18
- Expect to feel perfectly normal and positive about yourself each and every day, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. Experiencing heart-felt gladness, is supported through a connection with the divine source of happiness. “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil.” Bible. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13.
- Don’t wait for something or someone to make you happy. True contentment and buoyancy of spirit isn’t something to be sought out and then acquired. It’s yours already.
- Be proactive. Open your thinking, and allow the joy of happiness to be expressed in you. You can defeat unhappy thoughts and feelings and be happy in all you do. Knowing this is good for your health.
ABOUT THE EXPERT:
Beverly Goldsmith writes about the connection between spirituality and health and is a Practitioner and Teacher of Christian Science healing. Twitter: @GoldsmithBev