What does happiness mean to you?
04 May 2016 | Karen Liebenguth
Happy is a much used word. "I'm happy about this, I'm not happy
about that..."
But what does being happy really mean? How do we know we are
happy? What does it feel like?
Research has shown that long-term happiness, feeling contented
with life, stems from feeling and being in charge of as much of our
life as possible. It's not about smiling all the time nor does it
stem from money or health, but a self-belief you are on the road
you want to be on.
The problem many of us face however is that we live out of sync
with what matters most to us and we find ourselves doing a lot more
things we don't like, meaning the things that contribute most to
our happiness slip-off our agenda.
One of the most common reasons people seek life coaching is
because they have an overall sense of unhappiness and lack of
fulfilment. By helping increase self-awareness, coaching brings an
understanding of where you are in your life and how you get to
where you want to be.
Exploring Happiness
Last Month's international Day of Happiness inspired lots of
debate, including a panel discussion at The Canvas
Café, London's First Happy Café. It was an energetic event and
the themes tied in with research from the Action for Happiness Ten keys to Happier
Living.
At the event, people discussed the importance of being
spontaneous and playful; of making a difference to others; of
making an effort to be happy in everyday life, and of being kind to
oneself and others.
To find out what being happy means to you, ask yourself what's
important to you in your life.
What is meaningful to you? What are the things that give you a
deep sense of satisfaction and as a result, bring you
happiness?
It's often the little things that bring great joy. Reigniting
old passions such as painting, writing, photography or a sport;
spending quality time with family and friends; changing a habit or
routine or doing some voluntary work in your community.
Making an effort every day to explore what's possible is the
very thing that renders our life meaningful and happy. It is
essential for our wellbeing.
Karen Liebenguth is a life coach and accredited mindfulness
teacher. She offers 1:1 coaching while walking in Victoria park
because she believes that it is in nature where insight, change and
creativity can happen most naturally. Karen also offers mindfulness
workshops and courses for the workplace to reduce stress and
restore wellbeing.
For more information visit: www.greenspacecoaching.com or drop Karen a
line: karen@greenspacecoaching.com
This article was originally published in Love East magazine in April 2016. It is
re-published here with permission.