The state of affairs in the world may make it seem like happiness should be put on the back burner. Many people may think that it isn’t appropriate to be happy right now. Perhaps some people may feel guilty if they are feeling happy. We are all dealing with so much and I want to tell you that it is perfectly acceptable to feel happy right now.
I was commenting to my therapist, that lately I feel that life has been like running hurdles in high school track, with no finish line in sight. We’ve been dealing with Covid-19. We’ve been dealing with losing jobs. We’ve been dealing with protests and riots. What’s next? I was joking with a friend of mine about what is going to happen in July. I said the return of dinosaurs. She said alien invasion. The thing is we just don’t know, but we do know that something will happen next. It always does.
The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus said “There is nothing permanent except change.” This has morphed into the cliché that we say today: “The only constant is change.” So yes, something will happen next. It doesn’t mean it will be a negative change. It doesn’t mean it will be a positive change. What it does mean is that you can control how you prepare for it and react when the next change comes. What it also means is that we shouldn’t worry or have anxiety.
While we are waiting for the next change, why don’t we focus on happiness. Although, it may seem like our world is shattering around us, we really do have a lot to be happy about. As a grief and loss coach, I firmly believe that you can and will find happiness along your grief journey.
If you are having trouble finding happiness, here is a list to be happy about:
- A stranger’s smile
- Health
- Family
- Pets
- Friends
- Summer
- Rainbows
- Delicious Food
- Electricity and Air Conditioning (as a Floridian, I’m always happy about this)
- Hearing a great song on the radio
- The waves of the ocean
- A wonderful book
- Watching a favorite movie
- A friend to call in and check on you
- Figuring out the solution to something that has been challenging you
- Being alive right now
These are challenging times, but they don’t have to be unhappy. It’s up to you.
