In an effort to connect with our readers a little more, I decided to take part in a 30-day blogging challenge. This means that, for the next 30 days I will be posting a blog article per day, primarily in the form of a Heart’s Desire Thought of the Day. Each day, I will post a quote, a reflection, and a question that you can answer in the comments section. I hope that this 30-day journey will bring us all closer to our heart’s desires!
I decided to begin with Happiness, because, in the end, isn’t that what we all truly want to experience?
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.”
— Denis Waitley
It’s tempting to think “I’ll be happy when…” But happiness is not something that can be found anywhere, in anything, or in anyone outside of our selves. At times, what has us feel unhappy is that we are not willing to accept things, situations, and people – including ourselves – as they are. We feel that it, they, or we should somehow be different. However, the path to finding true happiness begins with acceptance, grace, and gratitude.
This is why, whether you are single, dating, or in a relationship, it’s important to remember that you – and only you are responsible for your own happiness. Too many times, relationships either end or aren’t even given the chance to begin because we make the person we’re with responsible for our happiness. This puts an unnecessary burden and responsibility on the other person. This causes the person seeking happiness in the relationship to have unrealistic expectations of the other person, “clinginess” or “neediness,” constantly looking for or trying to draw out “evidence” of the other person’s feelings, and consistently feeling upset and disappointed when all of our unrealistic expectations are not met.
A woman who is happy with her life, who finds joy in it, and lives in a spirit of love, grace, and gratitude is attractive – not only in the physical sense of the word, but in the sense that she attracts to herself more love, grace, and things for which to be grateful. And when she does meet or is in a relationship with someone, he has the opportunity to become part of her life and happiness – to add to it and enhance, rather than be responsible for it!
Are you happy today? Tell us more! If not, what can you bring love, grace, and gratitude to, beginning today?
Photo credit: nicole.pierce.photography ♥ via photopin.com cc
My happiness is my job, as is letting others know what makes me happy. 🙂 Too long I drove my man nuts and made myself miserable with. “If you love me you would…” or worse, “If you love me you’d know… and you would…” So much happier now!
Oh, Sheri! Do you hear the “Ding! Ding! Ding!” as you hit it right on the nose! Too many of us have placed that unnecessary burden on our husbands/boyfriends that, if they REALLY love us, then they “should” know what makes us happy. (sigh… Poor guys!) When we are already happy, already doing and sharing about the things that we enjoy, bring us pleasure, and make us feel happy, we give the people around us all the information they need to continue adding to that joy, if they choose to! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Great message. I’ve started telling this to my kids years ago to help them ‘get in the habit’ of thinking this way.
Thanks, Louise! It’s such a great lesson to learn at any age, but particularly at a young age! 🙂
Great message. I’ve started telling this to my kids years ago to help them ‘get in the habit’ of thinking this way.
Thanks, Louise! It’s such a great lesson to learn at any age, but particularly at a young age! 🙂
Hi there, Brandi, Michelle, and Gladys – I’m not sure who wrote the post, (hello to you all) but it’s a great message. I’m here thanks to the SMCSF 30 Day Challenge, and appreciated your post.
I’d love your thoughts on a belief I’ve long held about happiness – expressed in this personal quote:
“Our true happiness comes not from the people or things we have around us but from the simple satisfaction we get from being ourselves. True happiness is merely carried or may be amplified by people with whom we can be ourselves and with things that allow us to express or experience ourselves.”
Thanks in advance, and I look forward to reading more from you. -=]
Hello, Marc, and thank you for commenting! I (Gladys) absolutely love this quote! It affirms the idea that happiness starts within ourselves, and anything else that we attract or bring into our life simply serves to enhance — or as you say, “amplify” the happiness that is already there! And that happiness — pure joy — we feel is then expressed in who we are being in the world! Love, love, love it! 🙂
Hi there, Brandi, Michelle, and Gladys – I’m not sure who wrote the post, (hello to you all) but it’s a great message. I’m here thanks to the SMCSF 30 Day Challenge, and appreciated your post.
I’d love your thoughts on a belief I’ve long held about happiness – expressed in this personal quote:
“Our true happiness comes not from the people or things we have around us but from the simple satisfaction we get from being ourselves. True happiness is merely carried or may be amplified by people with whom we can be ourselves and with things that allow us to express or experience ourselves.”
Thanks in advance, and I look forward to reading more from you. -=]
Hello, Marc, and thank you for commenting! I (Gladys) absolutely love this quote! It affirms the idea that happiness starts within ourselves, and anything else that we attract or bring into our life simply serves to enhance — or as you say, “amplify” the happiness that is already there! And that happiness — pure joy — we feel is then expressed in who we are being in the world! Love, love, love it! 🙂
Great post and message. Enjoy your 30 day blogging challenge.
Thanks, Jean! I hope it will serve others, as well as myself! <3
Great post and message. Enjoy your 30 day blogging challenge.
Thanks, Jean! I hope it will serve others, as well as myself! <3
Unfortunately, society tells us that so many external things promise happiness, and there are messages galore reminding women that their figure and having a man are the keys to happiness.
A local columnist wrote looking at magazines in the checkout aisle and seeing the negative messages aimed at women. He wondered how all of this affects his nine-year-old daughter.
Hopefully, we can better articulate to our sons and daughters the true meaning of happiness as you’ve shared it, Gladys. Happy Blogging!
Thank you so much, Lucy! The “negative messages” began with a small group of people. It’s up to us to change the paradigm and the message for our generation and those to come!
Unfortunately, society tells us that so many external things promise happiness, and there are messages galore reminding women that their figure and having a man are the keys to happiness.
A local columnist wrote looking at magazines in the checkout aisle and seeing the negative messages aimed at women. He wondered how all of this affects his nine-year-old daughter.
Hopefully, we can better articulate to our sons and daughters the true meaning of happiness as you’ve shared it, Gladys. Happy Blogging!
Thank you so much, Lucy! The “negative messages” began with a small group of people. It’s up to us to change the paradigm and the message for our generation and those to come!
It’s such a hard lesson to learn that you don’t need certain people or things to be happy. I saw a video a few months ago about the science of happiness that really blew my mind.
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
Dani, instead of looking it as a “hard” lesson, I invite you to look at it as a “new lesson.” 🙂 Just a new “rewiring” of the brain, learning to be present, to allow ourselves to truly experience gratitude… Little by little, the “new lesson” becomes what happiness is for you! 🙂
Amen! I’m totally with you. An attitude of gratitude cures a multitude of ills. I’m thankful that, with few exceptions, I’m a happy person. Happy is my default setting. 🙂
That is awesome! And thanks for sharing the video! 🙂
It’s such a hard lesson to learn that you don’t need certain people or things to be happy. I saw a video a few months ago about the science of happiness that really blew my mind.
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
Dani, instead of looking it as a “hard” lesson, I invite you to look at it as a “new lesson.” 🙂 Just a new “rewiring” of the brain, learning to be present, to allow ourselves to truly experience gratitude… Little by little, the “new lesson” becomes what happiness is for you! 🙂
Amen! I’m totally with you. An attitude of gratitude cures a multitude of ills. I’m thankful that, with few exceptions, I’m a happy person. Happy is my default setting. 🙂
That is awesome! And thanks for sharing the video! 🙂
Oh, Sheri! Do you hear the “Ding! Ding! Ding!” as you hit it right on the nose! Too many of us have placed that unnecessary burden on our husbands/boyfriends that, if they REALLY love us, then they “should” know what makes us happy. (sigh… Poor guys!) When we are already happy, already doing and sharing about the things that we enjoy, bring us pleasure, and make us feel happy, we give the people around us all the information they need to continue adding to that joy, if they choose to! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Great message!
Thank you, bluecompassmarketing!
Great message!
Thank you, bluecompassmarketing!
Truth! I love this and look forward to reading more of your posts!
– fellow SMCSF blogger
Thanks, Lori! I’ll be checking out your blog, too!
Truth! I love this and look forward to reading more of your posts!
– fellow SMCSF blogger
Thanks, Lori! I’ll be checking out your blog, too!