The new year is the perfect time to refresh and re-connect to your Happy Place. A Happy Place is a memory, situation, or activity that makes you feel uplifted, recharged, and happy. Writing, filling and watching the variety of birds enjoy the bird feeders in my back yard, or getting down on the floor to play with my fo-fo Shih Tzu dog are three of many ways I use to re-connect to my Happy Place.
Nancy Mramor, Ph.D., a Pittsburgh psychologist who leads workshops on achieving happiness, says, "Everyone should have a place where you can go to feel safe and happy."
Seven proverbs on happiness, I believe, bring perspective on the benefits of being able to skillfully re-connect to a Happy Place.
"One happiness scatters a thousand sorrows." ~ Chinese Proverb
"Misfortunes make happiness sweeter when it comes." ~ Latin Proverb
"Happiness is like a field you can harvest every season." ~ Luo Proverb
"Happiness can grow from only a little contentment." ~ Pygmy Proverb
"Patience attracts happiness; it brings near that which is far." ~ Swahili Proverb
"All happiness is in the mind." ~ English Proverb
"Happiness is something to do, something to love, something to hope for." ~ Chinese Proverb
I love the concept of being able to re-connect to a personal Happy Place — somewhere you can go to escape the busy and buzzing world or to overcome stress, enjoy what you love, or pause frustration, disappointment or worry with an open and joyful state of mind.
We all should have a sanctuary, a place where we go to be fully present with ourselves. In your sanctuary of happiness, it is always awesome to smile, laugh, think, connect to your inner child, move yourself to happy tears, find peace, and ultimately increase your level of self-awareness, self-appreciation, and self-love. Going forward, I will explain how you can identify your Happy Place, in case you have not done so already.
Here are five ways to find and re-connect to your Happy Place:
Hear the sounds, along with your inner voice.
The sounds of the ocean, birds chirping, beautiful music, laughs with family and friends, a voice reading you your favorite childhood book, and cheers for you from a group of caring and supportive people.
Now, connect to and listen carefully to your inner voice. Where does it tell you to go or bring you when it takes you to your Happy Place. Does it push you to: Surround yourself with beauty, travel to someplace new, get active, freshen up your look, share some laughs with friends, or plant something green and growing. Or does it push you to: Watch an old movie, do some volunteer work, become creative, take you out into nature, inspire you to exercise, look at old pictures, check something off of your bucket list, or set a big goal or plan for the year – or years – ahead. Anything positive, peaceful, creative, active, loving, calming, joyful, or fun is good!
Acknowledge where you are right now.
It is always good to start where you are right now. To re-connect again and again to your Happy Place, you have to be honest and present in the moment. Where are you right now mind, body, soul, learning, growth, health, career, spiritually, financially, family, and friends?
Here’s where you will find and re-connect to you.
Plan and prepare your re-connect to your Happy Place.
Write yourself a letter that details step-by-step how you effectively plan and prepare yourself emotionally and mentally to go to your Happy Place. Your Happy Place Plan should identify and include your triggers on when, where, why, and how to go.
Use your imagination and stay open-minded. Recall the places you’ve been where you were happy, where you enjoyed the sounds and imagery, and where you can experience the essentials that contribute to your happiness. Also, the next time you find yourself in your Happy Place, savor the moment and later write down a few notes for future planning and preparation.
Propel yourself back into your Happy Place.
Happiness is subjective, as well as a state of mind. With the right inspiration, perspective, and command words to go, re-connecting to your Happy Place will become easier to achieve. Be intentional and prompt when propelling yourself back into your Happy Place. When it’s time to go to Your Happy Place — go! Make your command words (phrase) bold, fearless, powerful, and fun.
Here is one of the phrases I use to propel me back into my Happy Place: I am in charge of how I feel, and right now, I choose to go to my Happy Place!
You deserve it!
You’ve earned it. You are worthy. You deserve joy and the beauty of happiness in your life daily! It is never too late to make happiness and your Happy Place a choice. Let it be a place you visit physically or, at times, even imagine, but it must be a breathing and fantastic space that uplifts and recharges you.
Here’s to wishing you the faith, confidence, and follow-through you need in the new year to make it a point to re-connect often to Your Happy Place. And when you’re there, remember to savor the moment and bask in the space that brings you peace, inspiration, and unfettered happiness.
Happy Greetings! What is one way you reconnect to your happy place? Please feel free to share your strategy by commenting below. Thank you in advance for sharing.
About the Author: Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®
His Credo: True Greatness Is — As True Greatness Does!
Ty Howard is America’s Untie the Knots® Consultant, and Capturing Greatness and Passion Expert. Over the past 23 years, he has spoken to nearly 3 million teenagers, education professionals, student leaders, student-athletes, parents, fatherhood groups, youth development professionals, and associations across the nation and around the world. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://capturinggreatness.com.
