I have been thinking a lot about faith and happiness lately, what they mean to me, how to cultivate them, etc...
Because quite frankly I've been lacking in these two principles and the time has come to work towards some much needed, sustainable change.
Last semester and this semester I have struggled to truly feel happy, fulfilled, and satisfied with my life.
While I have had plenty of moments of happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction, these moments have seemed very shallow and temporary.
I know life wasn't meant to be easy, but certainly we are meant to have joy.
However, choosing happiness and joy usually require a lot of faith in God, ourselves, and others.
This type of trust has always been difficult for me, especially as I struggle to find the meaning and good in difficult and saddening experiences.
The other week I watched a documentary entitled "Happy," which explores the psychology of happiness.
According to the documentary, research has shown that the two main factors in determining happiness are: 1) human relationships and 2) experiencing "flow."
Studies also found some common qualities among happy people that included gratitude and time spent on doing something they find meaningful, which can include any job, volunteer opportunity, or experience as long as you feel it is meaningful and uplifting to you.
Human Relationships:
The more time we give to people in our lives and our relationships with them adds meaning, happiness, and joy to our lives.
Experiencing "flow":
"Flow" refers to the feeling of "being in the zone." It is most often experienced while we do things we enjoy, especially when it is not required of us. Therefore, people most often feel "flow" with their hobbies. This can include surfing, painting, leisure reading, running, rock climbing, meditating, etc... the list goes on.
As I have focused my time and energy these past semesters on school and everything that doesn't seem to be working in my favor, I have sacrificed both human relationships and the percentage of my time experiencing "flow."
I have chosen empty grades over fulfilling friends.
I have chosen to focus on failures rather than successes.
I have chosen to focus on heartbreak rather than the joy that comes from love, learning, and growth.
Although I'm far from perfect, I only hope that I can retain all that I've learned these past two semesters, even as the hard work and uncertainties continue.
I now choose happiness, and that can take a lot of faith.
Interesting that you are writing about happiness as today I have been thinking alot about happiness. I watched something on PBS and this guy was talking about it and how happiness is contagious just like sadness. If you have a smile on your face those around you will also start to smile and you will feel it in your heart.
ReplyDeleteHe also said for 21 days to send someone in your life a letter or an email telling them how their happiness has affected you. I started that yesterday and have already sent 7 emails. I am getting such great responses, and this has added to my happiness.
I guess what I am trying to say, is it is all in how we feel, we are the only person in control of our happiness. If we choose this road then those we come into contact will pickup on it and be happy also.
So you have made a good choice to be happy, keep it up.
I love you,
Aunt Debbie
I love this girl!It's hard with school and such isn't it? Cultivation of happiness from the internal sphere regardless of the external one surely is difficult to achieve. However, that's where the purest form of happiness lies! I've been thinking a lot about that too.
ReplyDeleteI just think you are great. I'm excited to be besties with you this summer since it looks like much of our crew is peacing out! I propose that we spend much of this summer doing many things with human relations and flow. Group hiking anyone?