Happy is as Happy does...

I guess I’m on a roll here…my last blog was also about Happiness! What the heck, I’m going for it…just consider this Part 2.

For those who have focused on their inner life for a long time and have experienced deep peace within, “Happy for no reason” is familiar. For some, it’s more innate, and not a complete stretch to experience. We may feel we “came in happy.” But for many, as our world becomes more complicated and chaotic, even toxic…as the veil is lifted on the matrix, layers of stress and anxiety become more endemic, and getting to a place of happiness can seem elusive or impossible.

I just read a post on social media by Nicole Doherty who said, “Worrying is like Praying for what you don’t want.” I love that. And I find it so true and apropos to experiencing happiness.

I was thinking about an old saying, that I tweaked to title this blog, Happy is as Happy does. My mother said it to me growing up, replacing the word Happy with something else. Usually this saying went along with an action, rather than a state of being like being Happy. How do we do Happy? Well, we don’t. But with all of the psychological and spiritual “technologies” we have at our disposal, the integrity of our happiness, or anything, depends on our being in alignment with it not just as a concept, but as a practice. And practice is a big deal!

Obviously if you want to be a really good anything, you have to practice—a lot. And more than ever we realize how it is an inner practice as much as an outer one. There are good days and not so good days, all part of the human psychology going through its machinations to seek pleasure and avoid pain. So if we are going to “practice” Happy, how do we do that?!

Happy is a deep feeling state, it’s not a mental goal. It is an outcome of many micro decisions made in an hour, in a day, in a week, that produce the neurochemicals, and the neurological pathways, that promote a feeling of well-being and, well, Happiness. What are the decisions we make that promote Happiness?

Here are a few that I rely on:

• Gratitude — practicing gratitude is one of the most neuro-chemically profound practices I experience. Gratitude promotes the release of dopamine and serotonin from the brain. I practice it daily, and I practice it in both happy and very challenging moments. I practice it when I start meditation. I practice it when something amazing happens that I cannot explain with my intellect. One of the mantras that gets me to gratitude is stopping and dropping into “Every moment is a Blessing.” Usually, I just say “Thank you…” I love Gratitude!

• Connecting with people I love — I intentionally and regularly reach out to people I love in the spirit of promoting heartfelt meaningful connections with them and with our common wins and growth. I co-create experiences with them that feel Happy.

• I Breathe, and slow down, and Relax

• I do work that makes me happy, cuz that’s a significant part of the day!

• Self-care including good food, exercise preferably in nature, and other pampering activities all nurture my mind, body and soul and promote feelings of well-being and happiness daily. The key here is doing that which makes me happy when I do it, not doing it out of obligation, guilt or shame.

What makes you deeply Happy? Whatever that is, prioritize it and practice it as much as you can. Choose things that don’t cost you money, so there’s no excuse not to include it in your life. Let it be your compass to your true north (Happiness) and things “going south” (yikes). With time, these all become habitual so choose wisely!

Right now, I’m celebrating that within you which is infinitely Happy and knows it…

Melanie

I offer FREE discovery sessions to explore this or any other topic that is meaningful for you. Reach out to me at Melanie@innertegrity.com, or visit my website at www.innertegrity.com/sessions