RECAPTURE YOUR HAPPINESS MOJO IN TWO EASY STEPS

​Remember the song “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. . .”?  

When I think of it, I immediately flash back to my childhood.  It's 1965.  I'm at a birthday party. There's a chocolate cake with pink buttercream flowers and a tiny, pink ballerina right in the middle. There are balloons, party hats, pin-the-tail-on the donkey and musical chairs.  After a healthy portion of birthday cake and ice cream, I’m all sugared up, ready to crash, and utterly happy.   

​Sound familiar? Do you remember feeling so utterly happy that in everything felt right with the world?  

​Have you felt that way lately?  

Unbridled, unadulterated happiness flows effortlessly and naturally in childhood.  

We see it in our kids’ faces after a victorious game.  We see it in their eyes when we  get them the birthday gift they "always wanted."   We see it in their smiles when they are elected Class President, or given a part in the high school play.  

And then something happens.  

Maybe it’s a function of the busy-ness of life.  Responsibility.  Back-to-back activities.  Stress and pressure.  We begin to forget what makes us feel good.  Happiness doesn't seem as accessible as it once was.  

Or maybe it's a product of how we see ourselves as adults.  Not wanting to reveal too much.  Thinking that maintaining our composure appears more professional.   

Whatever it is, there's a way that we, as adults, can temper our excitement.  We reign in our joy.   And the less we allow its expression, the more elusive it becomes.  

Now, I’m not saying that all expressions of happiness require fist pumping or whooping.  We each have our own way of expressing ourselves.  

I am saying that allowing yourself to fully experience the joys of accomplishment, or advancement or connection with others can be the difference between a healthy, happy life (yes, happiness is positively correlated with wellbeing and longevity) and one that leaves you feeling less energetic, less passionate and less engaged with your work and the people you love.  That's because happiness fuels us.   

If you’ve lost your happiness mojo, here are two easy steps to recapturing it: 

First, commit to doing something you enjoy, regularly, and allow yourself to be all in.   Find something you love doing and incorporate it into your week.  When you do it, let yourself engage fully and mindfully.  Whether it's dancing or knitting or singing out loud,  let yourself lean into the moment.  Notice how you feel physically, emotionally and, perhaps, spiritually.  Make a mental note of this experience so you can lock in the feeling.  Then, repeat! 

Second, share it!  Research shows that those who share happiness with others are happier overall than those who don’t.  Aside from giving yourself the opportunity to re-live the experience, there’s a happiness that comes from sharing that experience with others.  And there's the happiness they get from hearing about it!  Happiness connects us. 

Which reminds me of the Pharrell Williams' song “Happy.”  

Aside from the song itself, which I and apparently more than 12 million other people loved (the song peaked at #1 in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and 19 other countries), the original video went viral spawning 1500 cover videos from all over the world showing people of different countries dancing joyfully to the song.  Now that's a whole lot of happy.

In fact, Pharrell acknowledged the power of sharing in the 2014 New York Times article "Happiness Matters." He wrote: "I was lucky enough to create the song . . ." [but] "I didn't create this phenomenon.  Everyone else did."  Right, by sharing their experiences of happiness.  

I never get tired of watching the original or cover videos, because, well, it makes me feel happy.  So I'm sharing it with you, here.  

For a quick shot of "Happy" click here.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

See what I mean?

OVER TO YOU

What makes you happy?
What's one "happy" thing you can do for yourself right now?
Who will you share it with?

Please share your thoughts here.  I'd love to hear what you think.  You need only use your first name to post.  

P.S.  PASS IT ON

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I am passionate about empowering women to discover what makes them happy and to make powerful choices that lead to rich, rewarding lives.  If you need help getting your happiness mojo back,  please get in touch with me and let’s talk about how I help!