You can experience happiness everyday – You always have a choice |24 March 2018

The International Day of Happiness was celebrated on March 20 around the world. The day recognises that happiness is a fundamental human goal, and calls upon countries to approach public policies in ways that improve the well-being of all people.

As Seychellois reflected on the National theme for the year which was launched only a few days ago, the call for unity, peace and harmony kept echoing around the beautiful Seychelles countryside reminding everyone of the various reasons we can have to feel happy in a blessed country(‘Sesel Mon Pei Beni’).

Yes! When we can focus on the positive in our lives, and the positive in what is going on around us and in our country and when we can find the simple things we can be grateful for in any given moment, then we have the power to create powerful shifts to bring more contentment and more happiness in our lives.

All it takes is one tiny moment to reflect on the positive and what you have in your life right now instead of what you don’t have.

It is very common these days for a lot of people to search for happiness in material things. Many of them assume that things such as a good job, more money, better relationships and others will give them the happiness that they are searching for. When we aren’t happy, we tend to look around us at the external things in our lives to find happiness. But we must remember that happiness isn’t defined by stuff. The material things you own have nothing to do with what’s truly going on in your inner world.

The simple truth is, we can only find true happiness and contentment if we look within ourselves and we learn how to be our self’s best friend.

Happiness is the result of being loving and compassionate with ourselves, taking loving care of our own feelings and needs in the moment. Happiness is the result of sharing love with others, with people and with animals and nature. Happiness is the result of being in the moment and experiencing the beauty of a flower, a tree, the clouds or a sunset. Happiness is being in a state of gratitude for what you are and the sacred privilege of evolving your spirit in love, rather than focusing on what you don’t have.

Choose to accept that your happiness depends on your outlook, your actions and your willingness to make the best of each day. Today, choose to be aware of what you are attaching your happiness to, and consciously limit the thoughts about what you believe you need externally to be happy. Choose to move into love and compassion for yourself and others and gratitude for what you are and discover your happiness in the present moment, not tomorrow—not one day when ….

Once you decide to be happy – regardless of what you do or do not have currently – everything else will fall into place.

Contributed