A to Z Challenge the letter H = Happiness

In researching this post, I came across many websites touting “10 Keys to True Happiness”, “5 Laws of Happiness”, “You can be Happy Forever”, well that last one I just threw in, but you get the general idea.

The psychology websites tout words like validation, statistically testing, neuro-scientific studies and so on. I have read where your birth order can affect how happy you are and all sorts of probably very sound research initiatives but that does not give us a simple answer.

My opinion of happiness may differ drastically from scientists, psychologist and just everyone else in general. As someone has experienced depression, I can vouch that it can be harder work to feel happiness at times.  I came across an author who decided to chronicle a year of experiments and following different paths to achieve happiness. Her blog is divine and just reading the posts can lift your spirits. I just ordered her book and I will review it here later this month.

I am at my happiness when I am doing something for others. This almost goes back to the Five Languages of Love post, but my language of showing love is acts of service. (Receiving love however is a whole different language.) I have always been a volunteer of some sort throughout my life. Scouting, 4H, and other community related events can count me in. Though I am an unpublished writer, I volunteer to host blog hops, twitter chats, etc. whenever an author I know has a project going on. 

For the word Happiness today, I am going to suggest Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project website and also challenge you to do a small act of random kindness today. I sometimes leave change in a vending machine or drop a quarter into a gumball machine for a lucky kid. I like to do things anonymously though, as I am doing it to help make someone else’s day as well. Being anonymous just gives me a greater satisfaction.

If you want happiness for an hour ? take a nap.

If you want happiness for a day ? go fishing.

If you want happiness for a year ? inherit a fortune.

If you want happiness for a lifetime ? help someone else.

Chinese Proverb 

SENSE of Happiness

I love reading the Prosperous Writer Ezine by Christina Katz. This week her article focused on number 17 of the 52 qualities of a prosperous writer: Happiness. When I think of the word happy and being happy, a scene from the movie Legally Blonde pops into my head. The law students are working on a case and sitting around a conference table with their professor. They are discussing the probability of a woman's guilt of murdering her husband. Elle Woods speaks up and says "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands."

I like to think that anything a person loves to do and does so passionately releases a "happiness factor". It may not be endorphins per se, but it always makes them feel better. I love attending my local Zumba class. The Latin inspired music and the exuberance of my instructor always inspires me. After the class, I may be physically exhausted but I leave the class with a sort of happy peace. Every night I write at least 750 Words on the 750words website. I write about various subjects or vent frustrations. Afterwards, I sometimes feel mentally exhausted but I still achieve the "happy peace". I also agree with Christina, that the most deeply unhappy people have no idea how their negativity impacts others. Unfortunately, some of us have experienced this first hand. Something in their lives makes them so terribly unhappy,they feel they must play your emotions until you are on the same level. The closer this person is to you, the harder it is to keep your happy mind frame. This has always been a difficult situation for me to overcome.

Catherine Pratt of Life-With-Confidence, says after listening to negative person tell their horror story, ask them to tell you something positive. I think tomorrow I will ask the people I deal with to tell me something positive that has happened to them, just to see their reaction. Positive for me is the thought of building my new desk, seeing the family this summer, and my son's promotion. Nothing that is earth shattering but these thoughts still make me feel a sense of happiness.