Dancing in the Rain

How to be Happy NOW

When we were kids, we were automatically happier on weekends. Apart from having no classes and having the whole day for ourselves, it was also the days when our parents took us to the park, the mall, or the movies.

Sundays were fun days for most of us. But if we look back at our childhood days, we were generally happy even on a Wednesday. We were full of smiles on a daily basis. But somewhere along the way, it seems that many of us lost our reasons to be joyful. When did it all go south?

Why are a lot of people today just generally. . . sad?

If you walk around town today and ask people whether they are happy or not, hearing a “no” will not be very surprising. The past couple of years have been tough for everyone. Because of the coronavirus, countries all over the world shut their doors to travelers. People lost their jobs and businesses because of the pandemic, and most importantly, lives were lost.

We are not on the happiest pages of the future history book that will be written about us. According to experts, there was a significant drop in Americans’ mental health because of Covid-19. This study cites that people have higher symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression now, more than before the pandemic.

Surviving vs. Thriving

The pandemic seems to have unlocked a primal instinct in us to put our guards up and keep ourselves alive, even at the expense of the things that make us happy. Survival of the fittest, as one might say.

One of the biggest aspects of our lives is work. Did you know that an average person spends 90,000 hours of their life working? It is estimated to be one-third of our time here on earth! Sadly, a good portion of the population sees their jobs as just tedious matters they have to get over with. It is like a long, painful task one must accomplish to tick off their daily checklist. But in reality, a job is an opportunity to bring value to the world.

When we impart value, we see our purpose. And when we live our purpose, we become happier. It seems that the art of how to be happy has been delegated to what happens to us as if we had no control over it. But that’s not true.

Instead of just surviving, we want to thrive in our lives. Is it easy? Definitely not. But surely, it is achievable.

When we are not happy, are we even living?

That question has been posed and pondered upon by thousands of philosophers, perhaps even yourself. Still, there is no definitive answer, but we would like to believe that life is best lived with smiles on our faces. And the answer to how to be happy has to do a lot more with the choices we make than we are willing to accept.

Dancing in the Rain

Often, when it is raining outside, we only hope that the rain stops so we can go about our day. Having a bad mood is during the rain is normal. Somehow, the weather affects our mood. But, the rain in your life today should not be the reason you are sad, just as the sunshine tomorrow should not be the sole reason for your joy.

Happiness is not some sort of level on a video game or a circumstance that we cannot dictate. Happiness is a state of mind and a daily conscious decision. Even amid the problems and challenges, we are going through, happiness is dancing in the rain.

How to be Happy in the Now

Although we at Blissful Road would like to think that we are generally happy, it is not always sunshine and butterflies. However, having a guideline on how to feel better certainly helps. So, here are actionable tips to attract happiness and abundance to your life.

1.   Set and achieve small goals

If you wake up in the morning only aiming to get through with the day as early as possible to sleep again, you are doing it wrong. Celebrating your tiny successes is one of the secrets to a joyful life.

Instead of laying out your life checklist like this:

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Weekend!

            Try looking at each individual day as a set of goals that you can be proud of, no matter how small. Like this:

• Wake up at 7:00 AM
• Make a healthy breakfast
• Fix the bed
• Do the dishes
• Attend Zoom meeting with the manager
• Walk my dog
• Give myself a compliment
• Affirm myself
• Listen to my favorite podcast
• Sit alone for 10 minutes without any gadget

Perhaps, you can season it with small acts of kindness like:

• Compliment a colleague
• Smile to a stranger
• Donate $5 to a charity

This way, your days will be a set of small victories.

2.   Manifest Your Own Reality

Attract what you want to achieve. If you’re going to be successful, you must have a clear picture of what success looks like. Before becoming a blogger, I have always dreamt of having my own website – a space where I can post my blogs, express my thoughts, and help others. The website and the blog you are reading right now are a product of manifestation and attraction. The logo has been my desktop wallpaper for so long, and every time I looked at it, I get reminded that I am working on my dream.

What about you? What is your next milestone? Are you dreaming of leading people? Then act like a leader now. Start a charity? Then start being generous.

3.   Be a Child

When we hear the phrase “childish behavior,” we often think of immaturity. So, we always counter the idea with “grow up” or “be an adult.” But if we think about it, children are not that bad! In fact, kids are known to be carefree, and perhaps, that is exactly what we need.

A child does not worry about what they cannot control. Have you ever seen a kid pacing around their yard, slouched, and worrying about what tomorrow will bring? No. A kid cares only about today and how he can pass the time having fun.

Be a kid. How can you spend some time enjoying today?

4.   Be Grateful

Probably the oldest trick in the book. Count your blessings.

Often, we feel down because we forget why we are doing what we are doing. We see ourselves as just in transit to death, our own oblivion. Woah, that was dark.

We forget that we are working to create the life we want. And also, we are already living the life we wished for in the past! Being thankful for everything we have can remind us that life is not that bad no matter what happens.

This is such a beautiful topic. In fact, I wrote a whole blog on being grateful. Check it out here. I promise it’s worth it.

5.   Live in the Moment

Lastly, having a happier life requires a more focused perspective on the present. When we fixate on our past failures, we have a tendency to live as the person who committed the mistake instead of the one we are now: more mature, experienced, and wise.

A great reminder to make sure we live in the moment is to say a prayer or a word of affirmation in the morning before we get out of bed. When we say words along the lines of “New day, new me,” it is like we are hitting life’s restart button and starting on a fresh slate.

Doing the Raindance

Happiness is not some sort of a videogame level you have to reach, nor is it a certain number on your bank account.

Happiness is a state of mind.

Happiness is living your life with purpose.

Happiness is a decision to thrive despite unpleasurable circumstances.

Happiness is dancing in the rain.

Have a happy day!