I've heard that before and I thought it was a lovely premise, but then it occurred to me that I could simply test it. Is it true? After all, I am more than interested in a happy life, FULL of those happy moments. So could I make it happen more often? And how?
We were slowly making our way back from Sri Lanka, waiting for a taxi to pick us up and go to the airport. All packed, with suitcases downstairs, both me and my partner were sat by a table in an air-conditioned room. Gathering our strength for a long journey ahead, we were both playing with our phones, waiting for time to pass.
Then I looked up through the window and it hit me. I'm about to leave this very hot and sunny country for a rainy and possibly not-too-sunny London. And. I'm. Sitting. Inside.
So without hesitation, I got up and went outside. I found a few steps to sit on and closed my eyes to let the sun touch my face for the last time before leaving. I could feel my happiness levels rise within seconds. I ended up getting out my headphones and playing my favourite playlist too.
And then I did indeed get out my phone, like I had before, but it was an entirely different experience. I was aware of where I was, I was smiling "with my liver" (if you don't know what it means, watch Eat, Pray, Love) and I decided to catch up with some friends, writing messages about my holiday. Thus I anchored that positive experience with some positive writing.
Not too bad for an outcome of an innocent experiment.
How many moments do you think pass us by in that dull manner, when quite easily we could take actions to make those moments matter? To make them into an experience? And finally, to experience happiness?
Here are my tips on what YOU could do to create your happy moments:
1. Notice your surroundings.
2. Consider unusual lighting.
3. Play your favourite song.
4. Grab a lovely snack or a delicious drink.
5. And then DO.
To truly test this theory for yourself, start with a solo activity, so that there are no other external factors that could affect your moment of happiness. And soon enough I hope you too will experience that:
Happiness starts within.
Leave a comment with an idea of one moment that has undiscovered potential to be a truly happy one. (It could be while you're at home, or perhaps outside.) Choose a moment that will be only yours and think of two concrete ways in which you could turn that experience into a happy moment.
I'll start:
A moment - waiting for the coffee to brew.
2 ways to turn that moment from dull to happy - playing THIS tune (possibly through my headphones, as everyone else is likely to be still asleep) & dancing around the kitchen still in my pyjamas :)
Now it's your turn. What will you do? Think quick and leave a comment below. And then let loose a little. Connect to that fun that I know you've got inside you. Turn a dull moment into a happy one.
If you liked this article, please share it with your friends on Facebook or Twitter :) Let's spread those happy moments! One at a time.
Kat Bern
Kat Bern is a Happiness Coach and an Interior Designer. Through her online programs at katbern.com she helps ambitious women around the world enjoy their lives by showing them how to discover new, previously untapped, happiness potential.
Her newest program The Happiness Injection is designed to uncover new levels of happiness, let go of the need to play catch-up with your never-ending to-do list and to give you the ability to focus on that which matters most to you. FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING HERE.
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