The Path To Happiness
Yellow way marker and following footsteps on a snowy day.
What do you think when you look at this photo?
If you think “Brrrrr! That looks cold and dangerous, forbidding and isolated”. I would urge you to read on and hear me out. If you think, “That looks magical and clean, inviting and refreshing”. This blog is for you too because It’s all a matter of perspective.
Perspective really matters, perspective can be the difference between life and death, it can also be the difference between happiness and unhappiness. My knowledge of Positive Psychology and the routes to happiness means that I am going to share my journey with you and also challenge you to ask yourself some questions about your journey.
Know What Brings You Joy And Inject Joy Into Your Every Day
Anyone who knows me knows I like to walk in the countryside. I like taking photos of the natural world. The feelings I get from these activities are not just pleasure, they bring curiosity, interest, learning and a deep sense of joy.
Question: What 3-5 things bring you positive emotions and feelings that you can insert into your day?
Share Your Joy, Do Something For Others
During lockdown I shared my walks via my photos with my friends who can’t get out or who live in more urban settings. I edit them and send them whenever I go for a walk. It takes time and commitment, but I know how much some people like to receive them and the sharing brings my friends closer to me.
Question: How can you share your positives with others (bring a smile to their faces, bring them some interest or fun)?
Value yourself, Be realistic And Be Safe
When it snowed, I couldn’t wait to get out for a walk. Let’s be clear though, I prepared. I had my phone, hat, gloves, wellies, 2-3 layers of warm clothes and I told people my route and when I planned to be back. I chose a familiar and relatively short route that had pathways and I left with plenty of time before it got dark.
Question: How do you demonstrate your value and care for yourself on a daily basis?
Don’t Let Challenge Stunt Your Growth
Had I not prepared in this way I may well have felt …cold, endangered, scared, and isolated. I also knew I had to be mindful of hidden dangers underfoot; branches, holes, mud, and ice. It’s good to take care and be realistic about both your potential and your limitations.
It’s also good to get out there, to travel hopefully and breathe, experience the magic of what’s around the corner, gain a different perspective and change and grow every day.
Question: In what ways do you travel hopefully? What do you hope for? How do you share that hope?
Savour The Joy
When I stood on top of the ridge in that crisp air, I literally jumped for joy. I sang a happy song and savoured that moment. This may not seem sophisticated and grown up of me and I just don’t care!
Little kids are great at savouring life. It’s because they live in the moment. Little kids are also learning and growing in ways that we adults have simply abandoned. So, take some time to notice the season, the sights, sounds, smells and sensations of the world (you get all of this for free and it’s the difference between existing and really living). Imagine that you are experiencing the world for the first time.
Question: How often do you STOP and take some time just for you. BREATHE in the positives. Look at the world through the eyes of a happy child? Try it. I double dare you!!!!
My Learning Today
Even when the world seems strange and you feel a bit lost or disoriented there is always a path forward. My walk today lost much of its colour, it would have been easy to walk off the edge of a path. Strangely though, the signposts really seemed so much more prominent against all that white. I could see them from far off, mapping my route. At the same time, I noted that the dog walkers and farmers had been out before me. I walked in their footsteps and let their knowledge guide me. Just for the record looking back was only useful to note where I had been and how far I had travelled. You can’t safely move forward whilst looking back. Sometimes we need to change our perspective to find our way forward and at other times there is no shame in walking in someone else’s footsteps or taking a helping hand.
Question: Who’s footsteps have you walked in? Who follows you? Who can you offer a helping hand to?
Positive Psychology has found that to move our world experience from negativity to positivity, we need to have a 3:1 ratio. So, for every, one instance of frustration, anger, anxiety, and disappointment etc. we need 3 small flashes of, enthusiasm, happiness, contentment, and optimism etc. So, it’s important to recognise, acknowledge and savour the good feelings. Positive sharing grows happiness, as does helping others. Valuing ourselves and being compassionate to others are also positivity nourishers. Dwelling on the past and the negatives (regret and resentment) grow negativity, slow us down, keep us stuck and in some cases cause so much dis-ease (stress) that we get ill. Have a go at answering the questions above and see over the next week or two how you can grow the positives in your life and the lives of others.
TTFN Sam x