Happiness and Contentment…

As children we laugh and cry many times each day and both emotional states pass very quickly leading to the next and the next and the next...

As we get older we sadly tend to laugh less and dwell on the heavier stuff a bit more and also for longer. This is natural.

Can you cast your mind back to a happy / funny / good memory – what was it, what do you feel inside of you now when you reflect on it? How would you describe this to someone asking you about it?

How long did you just spend remembering? I’m guessing not that long albeit the impact can be pretty big and I know with myself I can even burst out laughing when thinking back to something that I found funny.

Next time when something fun/funny/happy/exhilarating occurs see what happens if you hold onto it for a few seconds, really feel and absorb it. Explore where it sits in your body and then place your hand on that body part to further connect with it. Pausing, acknowledging, feeling and really accepting and letting it reside instead of dismissing it too quickly. This could be something that made you laugh though equally a painting you see, a piece of music or song that you hear, a sunset / rise, some food that tastes amazing, stroking an animal and any other experience that elicits a healthy emotional within you.

Giving such things ‘space’ and ‘time’ in our lives can be really helpful both in that moment and future moments. We can call them up and lean on those times during the more difficult periods and they can help us.