HAPPINESS & WHERE TO Find it

Jackie Hillegers explores the importance of happiness.

Everyone experiences highs and lows in life but the emotion we would like to feel more of is ‘happiness’.

Happiness is not a ‘constant’ emotion; it ebbs and flows between our daily ups and downs. How boring would life be if we were stuck in one emotion all day, every day?

As humans our prime function on earth is to survive and reproduce, and this is the same for every living creature.

In order to survive our brain has a ‘fight or flight’ response, which is like a turbo-boost for when we sense danger. It releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline which provide a burst of energy in order to escape a potentially dangerous situation.

If we were always happy we would be walking around smelling flowers all day and feeling relaxed which would lower our awareness and ability to keep safe from predators.

So, since happiness is not necessarily the main reason for our existence – why and where does happiness come from?

The exact meaning of happiness cannot be defined as it means different things to different people. It can be a feeling you get when you do something you enjoy.

You may find happiness in rescuing animals and showing them love for the first time, it may be seeing your children growing up and doing well at school or spending time in your garden and seeing the results of your hard work in spring.

It may also depend on how you were raised as happiness to some people may mean success - such as having the lastest model car, the biggest house in the street or rising to the top of your field in sports.

As you can see all things great or small can make you happy and it is not our place to judge where others find their happiness from. Best to just smile as when you smile your brain releases tiny molecules called neuropeptides which helps to reduce stress.

Your brain also releases the chemicals dopamine, endorphins and serotonin which is an antidepressant. The cool thing is that you can trick your brain into releasing these chemicals by smiling.

For content and happy people, these are some of the principles they live by:

• Don’t set high or unrealistic goals

• Learn to manage your emotions

• Don’t be materialistic

• Love yourself unconditionally

• Be grateful for the small wins

• Work on and improve yourself daily

• Go with the flow and don’t take life too seriously

• Don’t rely on others to make you happy

• Live in the present moment

Don’t get tricked into thinking that people on the internet are happy all the time, remember you are only seeing their highlight reel.

We do not have to look a certain way or have certain things to make us happy.

Put your social media on hold for a while or delete the people you follow if they do not make you feel good about yourself. There are so many happy little moments awaiting you – you just have to go out and find them.

According to brain scientist Dr Jull Bolte Taylor, when we have a reaction to a situation there is a 90-second chemical process that occurs. If that emotion stays longer, it is the person’s choice to stay in that emotion. Choose wisely.

I truly believe that you find your own happiness internally. Learn to love yourself and learn to talk to yourself as you would talk to your best friend; and enjoy being in your own company.

When you have self-doubt or negative self-talk, your brain believes what you are telling it. This can lead to anxiety or depression and leave you feeling unmotivated and unhappy.

So take a good look at yourself and think about what is stopping you from being happy right now. Do not waste another day waiting for happiness to come knocking at your door - open that door and go find it!

Go for a sunset walk along the river, have coffee with a friend, indulge in a day spa, enjoy fabulous food and good wine. As Miley Cyrus says You can even buy your own flowers!

STEPS TO HAPPINESS

• Look after your physical and mental health

• Find your purpose

• Practice self-love

• Find gratitude in small things

• Give back to others

• Be more in control of your emotions

• Walk and embrace nature

• Stress less – just let things go

• Have healthy relationships

• Set boundaries