Living life to the fullest

16 May, 2021 - 00:05 0 Views
Living life to the fullest

The Sunday News

Selusweyinkosi Mhlanga

From the time we wake up in the morning, we set how our day is going to be like. Feeling tired and that you didn’t get enough rest? You probably think it’s going to be a long day, with you dragging your feet, sleepy and with a headache that will keep reminding you that you slept for a very few hours.

You could be right, or not, depending on how you look at it. Most of us are not aware that we can create our own happiness or change our luck, as others like to phrase it, otherwise, there would be fewer sayings and statements like ‘I woke up on the wrong side of the bed’ or

‘I’m having a bad day’ or ‘I’m just unlucky’.

Happiness is defined as a positive emotional state characterised by feelings of joy, contentment and fulfillment.

There are many things that make us happy. How about we intentionally create our happiness through doing things that we love instead of making excuses and waiting for other things to happen or to reach certain goals to celebrate life?

How about we start right now to celebrate the life we have, in whatever situation we are in, with whatever we have, and with whoever is in our lives? It doesn’t take much to create happiness, just the right mindset is enough.

Have a positive mindset
Decide today to shake off the negativity that weighs you down and focus on the positive for a change. Didn’t get much sleep, it’s OK, you’ll catch up on your sleep tonight but for now how about you play a song that you like and sing along or read jokes or think of the good times you’ve had that you know will definitely change your mood. These are called mood shifters.

You know yourself well, so compile a list of what makes you happy and apply these when you feel down. Different mood shifters may work at different times.

One might say they are going through something or a dark phase in their lives and it’s hard to see any positivity in their lives. You have to intentionally find something that will make you happy because you are responsible for your own happiness. Yes, our partners, children, pets can make us happy but only when we open ourselves up to that happiness. Be that person who invites people to be happy rather than drag them into your unhappiness.

How many people directly depend on your own happiness? Your spouse, kids, parents. Are you aware that your ‘moods’ affect them?

I realised the effect my moods had on my elderly mother some time ago. When I was happy she would be happy and there would be warmth in the house. When sad it would be awfully quiet and even the helper would be down. So I decided that I would not be responsible for creating a gloomy atmosphere no matter what I would be going through. So I made a rule that I never break down, every day I wake up with a smile and end my day with a smile, I don’t leave the house before listening to music and dancing a bit which always works to light up my day and has dissolved many dark moods.

Tough times?
I’m not saying bad things won’t happen to you when you choose to live a happy life. They will, but how you react to those things will determine the outcome. Life happens to us all but if we choose to look at the glass being half full than half empty we will maintain our happiness.

We’ve all been through a tough time this past year, some have not seen their kids or parents who are out of the country for longer than usual, some have lost their jobs and are struggling, others are depressed by what is going on around us. Some are sick and in isolation, let’s look at the bright side, we have the technology to communicate with our loved ones from afar.

So let’s keep in touch with them and relive the happier times till we meet them again be kind, say kind words to your neighbour, chat to someone you meet in a queue, you may be the only person that person has talked to today. Make someone you know laugh or smile or wave at them just to let them know you care. That will make you happy too, knowing you made a difference in someone’s day.

Gratitude
Are you in good health, did you eat today, do you have a spouse, friends, relatives, a roof over your head? Those are things we should be grateful for, never mind that the house you live in is shared or is not your own, your spouse irritates you or you didn’t eat three meals today and you don’t have all you dream of . . . yet. Gratitude creates happiness in us, and that is when we realise that we are richer than we care to notice. Complaints make us unhappy and unable to notice how much we are blessed.

Do you know that your state of happiness has a direct effect on your health? We’ll explore that in our next instalment.

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