We all seek happiness, but very few can really find it.
The most common advice on finding happiness is that, “Happiness comes from within.”
This might be true for some people. However, the endless search for happiness makes me think that the majority of people can’t find happiness that way. Controlling your thoughts and motions to react happily to any given situation is not that easy. Not everyone has the ability to control his responses or re-frame reality.
So, is there an alternative way to find happiness?
Yes, there is. And that’s what I’m about to share with you now.
But, before I do, we need to agree upon this fact:
Happiness oscillates
It’s an up and down state. Nobody can be happy ALL the time. However, your objective is to be happy MOST of the time.
And in order to be happy most of the time, you first need to define what the ideal state of happiness looks like. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to discover its location.
I believe that the ideal state of happiness is the child’s state of happiness. Look at a child playing and you’ll see happiness in action.
We were all born at level 10 of happiness. And as we grow old, fill our minds with negativity and experience life tragedies, we go down on the happiness scale.
With that being said, here’s where you can find happiness…
The easiest way to find happiness is to identify the locations that trigger your child’s state of happiness.
Yes, it’s an outside-in process!
This secret is based on the principle that says, “Change of scenery begets change of thought.” When you put yourself in an environment that triggers positive thoughts, memories and emotions, you will find happiness.
We all have favorite locations, or have been in locations, where we almost forget about time when we are there. These are places where you find yourself, experience pure joy,
become extremely excited, eliminate your stress, heal your wounds, gather with your beloved ones, find inner peace or feel proud.
Here’s an exercise that I encourage you to do now. I call it:
The “10 Locations” exercise It’s very simple. Bring a sheet of paper and write down 10 locations that trigger your child’s state of happiness. These could be places that you visit regularly, occasionally, or have been there only once. You can consider virtual locations as well. If there is a website that makes you happy and improves your mood, then feel free to add it to the list.
The goal is to write down any location that you remember has triggered the child’s state of happiness inside you, even if it has been years since you’ve been there.
Whenever you feel you’re moving down the happiness scale, make sure to visit one of these locations to bring the level of happiness up again.
Here are the 10 locations where I find happiness:
1. Cinema / Theatre
2. Hotel
3. Beach
4. Soccer field
5. Visiting a new city
6. Playing chess in a cafe
7. Book / Multimedia / Electronics store (e.g. Virgin, Apple Store)
8. Speaking on the stage
9. Martial arts center
10. Restaurants
Start with a simple list of 10 locations and add to it as you remember or experience other locations. Set a goal to create a “100 Locations” list this year.
“We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Begin by sharing your 10 locations in the comments below.