Happiness

This was our theme last evening at THKP meeting.  The group consensus was that happiness was contentment.  Not waiting for happiness to arrive when... or if only... but choosing to be happy with what you have right now.  This change in focus can be a huge paradigm shift in thinking from the pursuit of happiness to realizing you had the power all along

But where to start with the shift of focus?  Gratitude is a great way to be thankful for all you have.   Writing down what you're grateful each day is a profound way to realize there's always something to be thankful for.  Especially at this time of year, we tend to think more about thankfulness like family, a good meal, our home or whatever and those are all wonderful things to be thankful for.  But what about the other 364 days of the year?  By keeping a gratitude journal, you begin to see the little things that make your day happier.  At first it's the same things we're grateful for but then after a while we may find it more difficult to come up with something.  It's then the paradigm shift begins as we really look for things in our day that made us happier.  These are the little things we overlook like a smile from a stranger on the street, or a compliment from the bank teller, or finding a dime while out on a walk, a green light when we're in a hurry. 

When we spend our lives looking, searching for happiness in THE big thing, we miss the journey of all the little things that really are what makes a life.  So instead of working so hard on the pursuit, choose to be happy in all the little things that make up your day.  You will be amazed at how content you begin to feel and it will only be then that happiness settles in like a warm quilt.