(ThyBlackMan.com) ‘Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof because I’m happy’ -Pharrell Williams
Do you know someone who is always happy? Is it possible to always be in a happy mode? Are you happy right now? Happiness means different things to different people. One person may regard their pet as a source of happiness while another person may find happiness in writing poetry. Truth be told, it’s often difficult to determine genuine happiness; someone who is always smiling may be hiding behind a facade and still another may not be the type to wear the constant ‘happy’ face. Happiness and your health goes hand and hand.
Here’s the point: while it may not be possible to be happy all of the time, it is possible to appreciate the moments when we are authentically happy. We may then discover that the times we are experiencing a degree of authentic happiness vastly outweigh the ones in which we find ourselves UNHAPPY.
Thus your Personal Happiness Index: While the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) measures the economic well-being of a nation, your Personal Happiness Index (PHI) measures your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. In short, your Personal Happiness Index is a holistic indicator of the positive life experiences that allow you to be fully YOU!
Your Personal Happiness Index is based primarily on your willingness to experience meaningful moments. The higher your Personal Happiness Index, the higher your authentic happiness. So, if you feel the need to experience a greater degree of authentic happiness, here are three (among many) motivators that can help get you there:
Motivator#1 Exercise and be happy
The science is indisputable: Show me someone who is feeling the blues but has not been diagnosed as clinically depressed and I will show you a person who could become more physically active. Do some type of cardio and weight-bearing activity 10 to 20 minutes a day, something as simple as a brisk walk or push-ups and body-weight squats. When you exercise consistently, your body produces ‘feel good’ endorphins which lead to a general feeling of well-being. When you feel good, you look good. When you look good, you feel good!
Motivator#2 Express gratitude and be happy
Appreciating what you have now opens new possibilities for the future. Each day you plant your feet on earth should be an occasion to say ‘thank you’. Look at it this way: regardless of what your situation may be at the present – unemployed, relationship anxiety, bills piling up – you are doing better than ninety percent of the world’s population! There’s a mother in Bangladesh right now who’s washing her children’s clothes in sewer water! Count your blessings! Be thankful for what you have and you’ll make room for more!
Motivator#3 Excavate your passion and be happy
Great things happen when you leave your comfort zone – you discover a world you didn’t know existed! ‘Excavate’ means to ‘dig’. Unearth your passion! Find your dream! Many people get stuck in a rut because they simply refuse to leave the beaten path. Try new foods, new places; begin conversations with people with whom you don’t normally socialize. Listen to music you don’t normally like. Volunteer at your church or the local shelter. Play tricks on your brain by doing something different. It will thank you for it!
Put these motivators into action and I guarantee you’ll be clapping along with Pharrell Williams:
‘Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth because I’m happy’!