It’s all about Happiness!
July 1, 2010 by Káren Wallace
Filed under The Space
Are you happy?
I mean, really happy.
When you stop to think about it, it’s really quite hard to define happiness, or quantify what happiness looks like – there are so many ways of being happy. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that there are as many ways of being happy as there are people on this planet. That’s what makes each and every one of us special and unique.
Most people I talk to, however, would love to be happier.
Do you think about how happy you are?
It seems to me that often we only think about happiness when we’re not. When we’re sad, anxious, worried, hassled, frustrated or simply feelin’ a little blue… that’s when happiness (the absence) enters our thoughts. When we are happy, humming a little tune to ourselves as we go about our day, a spring in our step and a smile lingering around the corners of our mouth – then, we don’t think about it. Do we?
If you want to be happy, be.
~Leo Tolstoy
So we’ve decided Happiness is a wonderful thing to be discussing here this month. There’s already a veritable treasure trove of goodies from our writers and contributors, stacked in the cupboard, waiting to be revealed. I’m bursting at the seams to share it all with you! I’ll let you in on a secret – we have a new space launching this month, with a precious writer you’re sure to recognise if you’ve visited here in the last couple of months. She’ll be along in the middle of the month… so do watch this space!
On a personal note, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who wrote, messaged, emailed, tweeted and generally sent their prayers and love to me in the last month. Losing my Mother, Diana, was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through, and your support and prayers meant so very, very much. Please add my Father, Bill, to your prayer list as he mourns the loss of the love of his life.
I do feel that one day soon I’ll share a little more of the lessons and love I’ve received – it has definitely been a time of incredible sadness, but also a time of great learning about life, strength, love and the power of family.
Without further ado…
This week at The Calm Space
At Breathing Space – Take a deep breath of happiness… and don’t forget to download this stunning photo as your desktop wallpaper for the month! It’s guaranteed to lift your mood and bring on a smile.
At Organising Space – Happiness Is… by Angela Esnouf. The moments that make her feel grateful along with tips to help you increase your happiness.
At Guest Space – The Pursuit of Happiness by returning guest Carla Cummins Thomas. Read why Carla is giving up on happiness…
Photo Source: Orange County Fun by Rowdy Kittens
you know, I can honestly say yes, I am happy. I am very happy. And the easiest part of that happiness is that I am grateful and content. Although I have goals that I work on, there is nothing that I need to achieve happiness. It is a state of being for me.
Wonderful topic. I look forward to reading more.
Thank you, Karen, for the opportunity to join you and your community here again in this lovely space you’ve created. It’s a thrill to be here.
Wendi – Yay! I am thrilled to hear you say that. There really is something about gratefulness and contentment, isn’t there? And thanks for visiting – your comment put a smile on my face and a spring in my step.
Carla – oh, you are so welcome! It’s as much a thrill for us to have you here… you bring your smile and your infectious happiness and brighten our lives. Thank you.
Karen,
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. I can relate having lost my father in Sept. 09. My sincerest condolences.
I’m pretty happy but I do think I could be happier. I have a tendency to put my happiness on hold when I’m tense and under pressure, or when I’m driven to complete tasks.
Is happiness and contentment the very same thing
If in our life we’re content, then who do we blame
If you strive for nothing that’s out of your reach
Do you find happiness in the nothingness you seek
I’m not so sure happiness was in God’s plan for me
But my contentment was good, in this life you see
Angela – oh thank you. I appreciate your wishes so much.
It is so easy to put aside thoughts of happiness when we’re stressed or really busy, isn’t it? At least you’re recognising you’re putting it on hold – and that awareness is so crucial in any change for the better. Here’s to more happiness and less tension!
Ellis – welcome to The Calm Space! And I think you’ve provided our very first poetic comment. Yay! You raise such an interesting question – are happiness and contentment the same? Does one lead to the other? Can you have one without the other? I’m hoping we will explore more around these questions this month… thank you so much!
Dearest Káren, I could ramble on and on about everything that makes me happy, but I won’t!
I am extremely happy to see the smile returning to your face, even if just a little to begin with, and that the spring is returning to your step.
Thank you for sharing this month of happiness.
Hello, it’s me again, I’m back. I should probably just go write a blog post on this and might. (if I do, I’ll reference you here.) Funny thing happened on the way home from writing my comment. My brother in law from 20 plus years passed away. Now he had a long term illness, but…we thought he had several more years so in that sense it was a bit sudden.
So…the point. It’s very sad. Lots and lots of tears. He leaves behind a wife and three beautiful daughters and we all will miss him very, very much. And we have all been crying off and on every day.
And then…in the midst of it all, I remembered your question and I remembered my answer.
And I thought, Am I still happy now?
I had to stop and think about it to give myself a heartfelt honest answer.
And the answer is still…. absolutely yes.
I believe a person can be terribly sad and happy at the same time.I am happy for a life well lived. I am grateful to have had an amazing friendship and to have him influence my life in such a profound way and for the love I feel for him and his incredible family. I am happy that I am not afraid to live and love and hurt this much. I am grateful to be able to feel and for the gift of living life alive.Even when it hurts.
That makes me know I am alive. That makes me happy. Like tasting rain and tears. And loving so much that sometimes it hurts.
So..yes…I am happy. REALLY happy. Thank you so much for this question this month. Turns out that it was an important one for me.
Hi Wendi. I hope Káren doesn’t mind my popping in to talk to you here. I just wanted to say that your words just now were really beautiful. It is probably the most heartfelt comment I have ever read.
I do hope you write a further blog yourself about how you are feeling right now. I’ll be looking out for it.
My thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
Joanne. xxx
Of course – I am happy. I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life. My family, my children, my friends.. they are all treasures. We have a home, and plenty of food, and our health. I can’ tthink of anything I REALLY need.
So why am I not satisfied?
Absolutely beautiful. A much needed reminder. Thank you.
Nice site that I have just stumbled upon.
I would have to say that at this time I would consider myself happy. Sure I have my moments of irritation and tension but the deep-rooted core of me would have to say that she is happy. I am doing what I want to be doing and all is going well in my life. (knock on wood)….When I start to feel down I just remind myself of all the others in the world that are going through tough times or are less fortunate than myself and then I give myself a swift kick in the rear and I ‘buck-up’.
Hello Karen
It has been a pleasure visiting her several times now, and I love the work you are doing. It reminds me so much of my own work and vision – and it is always so good to see so many of us sharing our service, gifts and talents with the world.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mom, but as you mention, there are many lessons both in birth and death, that remind us of our magnificence, and eternal nature.
As for myself – today happiness, joy and peace are my natural state. I love that quote you shared from Tolstoy, it really can be that easy – it all depends on what we choose.