Keys to Happiness

I've been pondering the idea of Happiness. What is it that makes me happy? Why do I feel happy today? Is happiness only a fleeting feeling? What are the main ingredients to grow in happiness? Is happiness genetic? Is happiness only circumstantial? What role does our attitude and actions play in our happiness? Are joy and happiness the same thing? How do I cultivate greater contentment, peace, joy, & happiness in my life? 

Spiritual Health
A deeper awareness and relationship with God is always connected to our sense of joy. I'm often looking for specific formulas or ways to grow closer to God, and it usually boils down to being with God, acknowledging Him, learning about Him, and prayer. We often see prayer as communicating and talking to God, but I think we forget to listen and simply commune with Him. True joy comes from God and knowing Him.

Relational Health
Gratitude for good people in my life has been highlighted lately. I'm grateful I have great parents, friends, and healthy relationships with those around me. Treat others with kindness, empathy, and understanding. Happiness & positivity can often be contagious. 

Financial Health
Another factor is work, business, and finances. Working hard pays off. Focusing on how to steward money, be financially responsible, and find ways to make more income every week can lead to less stress and more financial freedom. Instead of seeing our occupations as something we have to do, perhaps we can see them as opportunities to help serve and support others. 

Physical Health
Exercise is always therapeutic for me. It feels good to be active and moving. Nature is also somehow connected to our sense of health and wellness. My eating habits have not been the best these past few months. But I know nutrition plays a key factor in our day to day.

Emotional Health
It's important to check in with ourselves and look at how we're managing stress. It's healthy to express our emotions, share our thoughts, and develop self-love towards ourselves. We all need a support system of some sort.

Intellectual Health
I connect our mental health with self-belief and confidence. If we have a strong mindset for success, we can grow in our self-development by being consistently disciplined. This also ties into our inner self-talk, and thinking about our daily thoughts.

Virtues & Values
Developing a stronger sense of our virtues and values can also lead to greater happiness. In what way can we work on our character? In what way can we have greater integrity and morals? In what way can we utilize our strengths, gifts, and virtues? 

Meditation & Mindfulness
There's some sort of connection with taking deep breaths, relaxing our body, and being present that helps reduce stress. Forgiveness is also linked to finding greater peace and contentment. 

Positive Affirmations
Catching our self-talk is important. Happiness often requires confident and loving self-talk. The more we increase our self-love and positive mindset, the more we have to give. 

"The greatest discovery.. is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes." -William james

There's something about achievement that is correlated to happiness. Accomplishing something challenging gives us a feeling of being productive. Investing in ourselves, being compassionate, working hard, and being positive seems to have massive ripple effects.

There's something about doing good to others that seems significantly meaningful. Being intentionally relational, helping, giving, blessing, and encouraging others in love seems to have positive effects on our mood. I think there's something to intentionally setting a goal, creating a routine habit, or using our time in a relational meaningful way that is highly correlated to happiness.

Happiness and contentment is important. We can elevate how we think and feel. It's easy to go through emotional roller coasters experiencing both highs and lows. In what way do we increase our positive emotions and decrease lower vibrations of emotions? I argue that spirituality and God Himself is the one who works in us, to draw us to Him. 

Perhaps there is much more than just happiness. Perhaps we are to find a rich sense of love and righteousness in Him. Perhaps we can tap into our highest potential of self that glorifies and worships Him. To have a life committed and resolved to live for his purposes and his will. To help those in need. To develop a high dependency on God. Not only a formal head knowledge or acquisition, but a relational intimate heart knowledge of acquaintance, surrender, and deep trust.

What does it take to deepen in our spiritual maturity? What does it look like to abide and remain in Him. To let go and detach from a worldly sense of happiness, to a spiritual sense of maturity, freedom, and abundance of joy found in Him.

Who or what are you grateful for? How can we can increase our appreciation? What can we do to take better care of our holistic health? Do what it takes to be consistently disciplined, to honor God, love others, grow in self-love, be healthy, be thankful, and develop a better version of yourself.

The best version of yourself is the happiest version of yourself. The best version of yourself is when you're most satisfied in God. Happiness is a byproduct of doing what is meaningful and good. Stay focused, stay disciplined, stay consistent, and work on self-care. Thrive. Flourish. Love.