A way to create happiness is to notice when something makes you happy.

It’s hard to be happy if we are always noticing the things that are other than we want them to be. It might even be impossible. So we practice noticing what’s going well for us, what Thich Nhat Hanh calls the non-toothache, or what doesn’t suck as my dear friend Karen would say. And then we soak it in.

Two powerful things that help in the cultivation of happiness:

Noticing:

When we make the effort to create gratitude lists we begin to notice what there is to be grateful for. Sharing our gratitudes with another person is powerful too. And if someone else shares their gratitude with us we get the bonus of feeling their joy. We are social creatures after all and if feels good to feel another’s happiness. It can be a fabulous way to begin a meal with someone. Texting friends or creating a text thread that captures what are grateful for can be very powerful too. (#gratitude)

Soaking it in:

When you notice there is something you like (or something that doesn’t suck), something you see, hear, feel, think, taste or smell, any experience that comes in through one of the sense doors that you enjoy, notice it! And then take some time to be with the experience. Soak it in. Maybe 10 breaths (Ten Breaths to Happiness book by Glen Schneider on Parallax Press)

I hope this helps you find more ways to happiness!

Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash