Is Happiness Just an Idea

At 3:00am in the morning, I woke up and I could not fall back to sleep. I kept thinking about everything I had to do today and how a special person in my life was struggling. Being a coach and in recovery from my food and codependency, I started using some of the tools from the 12 Step Program. Thanking my Higher Power, saying the Serenity Prayer, thinking about all the things I am grateful for and giving myself a big hug. Nothing helped!!

Then I asked myself the question, “What am I happy about right now?” My husband was home from a business trip and sleeping peacefully right next to me. Also, Alice and Alfie my cats were lying next to me purring. That is happiness!!!

Happiness can be watching the birds, taking a walk and experiencing nature, putting your favorite music on and dancing through the house, or just relaxing for a few minutes. It has been proven over and over again that our thinking creates our reality. Taking a few minutes to ask ourselves the question, “What are we happy about right now?” changes our thoughts and reduces stress.

I invite you to take a few minutes today and ask yourself the question, “What makes me happy right now?” Remember starting a new thinking pattern may take time and as my mother use to say, “Rome was not built in a day.” Have fun with the experience and let me know what makes you happy today.

“Happiness is free and ours for the taking.” Helen Burton, The Recovery Coach