Happiness is one of those words that can have different meanings according to who is describing this state of being. There are various dictionary definitions available and many opinions on happiness, however my own view of happiness is that it is an energetic vibration that emits a high frequency of positivity.
You may have people talking about attaining a higher vibration? Well as described by author Cassandra Sturdy your ‘vibration‘ is a fancy way of describing your overall state of being.
This high frequency attracts like energy such as rewarding friendships, fulfilling intimate relationships, meaningful work, feelings of contentment and an overall sense of wellbeing and most likely you have little, if any, discomfort or pain in your physical body, and your emotions are easily dealt with.
The lower your vibration, the denser your energy, and the heavier your problems seem. Here you may experience fear, anxiety, sadness, depression or pain and discomfort in your physical body or experience heavy emotions and mental confusion.
It actually doesn’t take a huge shift to increase your vibration and there are countless ways to do so, therefore I thought I’d share a few simple ways that work for me in keeping me happy.
1. Express Gratitude
Take a few minutes out your day to be grateful for the wonderful things and people in your life, your health and the beauty that surrounds you, even if it’s a small tree in the middle of a big city. Be grateful for the meal you are about to eat and anything else that has been blessed to come into your life, including some of the negative things that ended up being wonderful life lessons that expanded your spiritual growth.
2. Daily Routine
I believe that having a consistent morning routine helps you get your day off to a productive start. Personally my daily routine includes jumping out of bed, (without hitting the snooze button) cleaning my teeth (to get rid of the toxins) and drinking a pint of water (hydrates the brain). This is followed by a 5-10 min meditation and a 20-30 min brisk walk or cycle along the beach, whilst listening to a podcast or positive mindset audio/music. All of this gets my head into the right space to focus on the activities I have planned for the day.
3. Forgiveness
When someone you care about hurts you, you can hold on to anger, resentment and thoughts of revenge, however letting go of grudges and bitterness and embracing forgiveness allows you to move forward. After all none of us are perfect! Also remember to forgive yourself.
4. Hit The Pause Button
Find something beautiful and appreciate it. Beauty is all around us, yet so often we walk around with blinders on. Stop rushing for a moment and take the time to look around or stand in the sun and appreciate your surroundings.
5. Music
Listening to music that you love shifts your vibrational frequency to a higher level and can easily be done anywhere – driving, on the bus, doing housework etc.
Almost everyone will have heard the hit single ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy and the simple message will no doubt have made a lot of people happy by telling them not to worry. Personally, I love the more recent ‘Happy’ song by Pharrell Williams as it simply brightens my mood no matter how I am feeling.
6. Mindfulness/Meditation
Too often we rush through our days with a frazzled brain, leaving us in a state of turmoil and anxiety. Mindfulness practice and meditation not only put you in a peaceful state of mind, they also help attract what you want in life. Just 10 – 15 minutes a day can do wonders for your energy and vibration.
7. Get Moving
Find ways to get moving every day. Exercise gets your energy flowing, keeps you fit, and helps to calm your mind. You don’t need to join a gym or run a marathon. Build in daily walks as a part of your routine, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Stretching, walking, dancing, gardening, swimming, running, bicycling are all great ways to get your blood pumping. Alternatively Yoga or Pilates for a more gentle routine.
Whatever you do don’t be tempted to sit on the couch and watch TV, as this only drains you further. When it comes to energy if you don’t use it you lose it!
8. Get into Nature
Get outside to nature, whether it’s planting a garden or a bed of flowers, or going for a walk. If you don’t want to walk, find yourself a patch of earth and kick your shoes off to reconnect with Mother Earth. She will work her magic. Getting your own two feet on the ground has a calming and balancing effect that can’t be denied. It also helps our bodies to rid themselves of all the frequencies we absorb from cell phones, computers, and the like.
9. Laugh Every Day
There is nothing like a good laugh to improve your mood and raise your energetic state. Do things or be with people who make you laugh – laughter is a very high vibrational energy, even if we’re laughing at ourselves! ? Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. As they say -‘Laughter is the best medicine’
10. Take Action
Procrastination is a sure way to lower your vibration. When you have things you’ve intended to do, but you keep putting them off, they pull at you, lowering your vibration until you get them done. Start taking small action steps now. When you’re actively moving in the direction of your dreams it feels good. Set goals for yourself, focus and then start taking action today!
11. Become More Aware of The Foods You Eat
You’ve heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” If you want to raise your vibration and be in a happy state, choose more healthy, fresh, plant based and whole foods such as organic fruits and vegetables, nuts, soy and coconut oil rather than processed, frozen, stored or chemically altered food. If the food you consume is covered in pesticides, it will leave you feeling weaker, as will artificial, chemicalised processed foods. Always read the labels and know what you’re putting into your body. Oh and always drink plenty of water to assist your body in flushing out toxicity day to day.
12. Expressing Feelings
Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Just telling others how much you love them or how proud you are of their accomplishments, could bring a smile to their face. Sometimes people just need that reassurance.
You can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull your life is
The choice is simple really, choose TODAY to be happy.