“The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

In the busyness of life, we crave for a moment of peace, a sliver of happiness amidst the chaos. We each crave for happiness our very own little happy place we can escape into.

But how do we define a happy place, and how do we know when we’ve stumbled upon one? 

In this article I will share: the meaning of real happiness, the importance of finding your happy place and insights into how you too can find your happy place.

What Is The Meaning Of A Happy Place And How Do You Know You’ve Found One?

A happy place is not just a physical location, its so much more than that. It’s actually a state of mind, a sanctuary where you feel a deep sense of contentment and joy. 

The magic of a happy place is this: taking a deep breath and feeling a wave of calm wash over you. It could be a space in nature, a cozy corner in your house, or even a cherished memory that transports you to a place of happiness.

Your happy place is special and unique to you and only you. It can be anything that makes you feel happy, peaceful, and content. 

Your happy place is a space where you:
~Feel safe and secure, enveloped by happy thoughts, memories, people.
~Can escape from the stress of everyday life and just be calm
~Physically go to – such as a park, the seaside or a somewhere in nature 
~Can mentally escape, focusing on a happy memory, a positive thought, or a meditation practice 

“Everyone has a happy place, the scene that comes into view when you close your eyes and let your mind transport you to the dot on the globe where life is cozy, safe, warm.” ~ Sarah Jio

Finding Your Happy Place is as simple as 1, 2 ,3…

1. Start by making a list of things that make you happy, such as spending time with loved ones, listening to music, or practicing a hobby. 
2. Second, try to incorporate these things into your daily life and make them a part of your routine.
3. Third, Visit your happy place often and make it a part of your life. 

Why Finding Your Happy Place is SO Important?

Here are some key benefits to finding your happy place:

Mental Health Support: Your happy place can help support your mental health by providing a sense of peace and tranquility. It’s a place where you can escape negative emotions and the stress of everyday life. Studies have reavealed that Visiting your happy place on a regular basis can help reduce anxiety and depression, boost your mood, and improve overall mental well-being. Engaging in activities that bring you joy and contentment can have a profound impact on your psychological well-being. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones or pursuing hobbies you’re passionate about, nurturing your own happy place is key to maintaining a healthy mind.

Stress & Anxiety Reduction: Today, stress has become our biggest problem. However, carving out time for activities that bring you happiness can act as a powerful antidote to stress. A new research has revealed, that happiness isn’t just a state of mind. It affects your heart rate, your body chemistry, and it could contribute to substantial physical health benefits over time. The result of the study showed that people with higher happiness ratings not only had a lower heart rate, but also had lower levels in their saliva of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, and less concentration in their blood of a plasma that’s connected to heart disease. Another study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, revealed that happy individuals tend to be more resilient in the face of life’s challenges and have lower levels of stress and anxiety.

Provides Work/Life Balance: Striking a balance between your work and your personal life is key for your overall well-being. Your happy place serves as a refuge from the demands of work, allowing you to recharge and rejuvenate. Whether it’s spending quality time with family or indulging in self-care activities, finding your happy place helps create harmony and balance in your life.

A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that individuals who actively worked on increasing their happiness levels experienced improvements in various aspects of their lives, including relationships, health, and job satisfaction. 

14 Easy Ways to Find Your Happy Place

Now that we have understood the importance of finding our own happy place, let’s explore practical and easy ways to discover and nurture it.

Here are 14 easy ways to help you find your happy place easily:

1. Fan your passions

Doing something you’re passionate about can help you feel happy and fulfilled. It can be anything from photography, baking or yoga. The key is to find what you love and make time for it. You can get back to an old hobby you used to love or try some new hobbies to explore new interests.

3. Declutter Your Home

Having too much clutter in our everyday surroundings is stressful – we know this. So, making time to declutter our homes can truly create a happy place and an enjoyable home life in which we can physically spend time. A great example of why decluttering is connected to contentment and happiness is the practice of Feng Shui – the popular Chinese practice. Feng Shui is…“The practice of arranging pieces in living spaces to create balance with the natural world. This is what it means to feng shui your home. The goal is to harness energy forces and establish harmony between an individual and their environment.”

4. Treat Yourself To Something

Treat yourself to something you’ve been wanting to do or buy for the longest time – and don’t feel guilty about this. It’s 100% okay to give to yourself in a way that makes you happy. You might get a massage, buy yourself flowers, or a fancy dinner. Doing something nice for yourself can boost your mood and bring you happiness.

5. Take care of Yourself (Self-Care)

Self-care is essential for your physical and mental well-being. Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising regularly. Doing things that make you feel good can bring you happiness. There are 5 different types of self-care that are important to focus on for true balance… physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social.

6. Do Something Nostalgic

Reconnect with happy memories from your past by indulging in a little nostalgia. Whether it’s watching an old movie, listening to some beautiful music from your past, or flipping through old photo albums, reliving happy moments can truly lift your spirits. Re-engaging in these past life events can give us appreciation and gratitude in our lives and a positive outlook today.

7. Get out of the house

Get out there and explore a new place to broaden your horizons and create new memories. The great thing is there are so many ways you can do this. You can travel abroad – visiting new countries, have a weekend getaway or go somewhere local that you’ve never been to before. I like to go find new coffee shops and indulge a bit ever so often.

8. Laugh

Laughter is the best medicine for a reason. Surround yourself with humor and seek out opportunities to laugh with friends, watch some stand up comedy, or read a funny book. I find that when I’m in a low mood putting on a funny baby YouTube video or minion videos can really lift my mood. I’m a big fan of sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory, Friends, Schitts Creek etc. You must check them out 🙂They are instant mood lifters.

9. Spend Time In Nature

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature to find your happy place. Whether it’s a hike in the mountains, a walk on the beach, a walk in the park, or simply sitting under a tree, spending time outdoors boosts vitality levels and promotes feelings of happiness. I literally can’t function straight if I have not got my nature walk in daily!

10. Move your body

Doing something physical can help you feel good and bring you happiness. It could be anything from dancing, yoga, or hiking. Exercise releases endorphins, your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters which can boost your mood and create positive emotions. I couple this way with #9 to get 2 in 1 benefits 🙂

11. Bring Back Happy Memories

When was the last time you flipped through your old pictures? Take a trip down memory lane by looking at old photos and reliving happy memories. Whether it’s flipping through a photo album or scrolling through your social media, revisiting cherished moments can bring a smile to your face and lift your spirits.

12. Visit a Favorite Place

Take time to visit a special place that holds meaning for you. Whether it’s a local bookstore, a farmers market, a park bench with a beautiful view, or a beautiful hike you love, spending time in a place where you’ve had positive experiences and good memories can create feelings of comfort and happiness.

13. Practice Gratitude

One way to cultivate this feeling of happiness is by practicing gratitude. Which is also one of my all time favorite way. When you focus on the things in your life that you’re thankful for, you can experience feelings of gratitude that can lead to a deep feeling of happiness. One of the easiest ways to practice gratitude is with journaling(so fun!). You can:

• Write down three things each day that you’re grateful for. You can use any blank journal or a cute journal with inspiring quotes and imagery to keep you motivated. You can also use your phones Notes app to write it all.
• Use gratitude journal prompts to help you uncover what you’re truly grateful for in life. This is good for people who might have a tougher time finding things to be grateful for. I’ll share a free printable with these prompts in the next post to get you started 🩷Subscribe so that you are notified as soon as I send it out.👇

14. Enjoy Your Alone Time

In the midst of life’s noise and chaos, prioritize carving out some moments of silence and solitude. If you live alone or have no kids this can be easy, but for those of you with families the best way to create space for alone time is to wake up before everyone else. You can use this time to be in the present moment so you can reflect, and give yourself some inner peace. To do this you can read a good book, journal, stretch, meditate, or simply enjoy every sip of your morning coffee or tea.

In Conclusion

In this journey of life, happiness is the goal always. But its the journey getting there that brings true happiness. Waiting to reach a destined happy place, will keep you waiting. It’s okay if it takes time to discover what truly brings you joy and contentment. Be patient with yourself and keep exploring until you find what works for you.

Your happy place can be a state of mind or an activity that brings you deep contentment – it doesn’t have to be a specific place, but even if its, that is ok too.

I’ll leave you with my happy place…Hugging and spending time with my daughter, my nature walks, writing for you, helping my clients heal, cooking, taking care of my little balcony plants, coffee 🙂

Happiness is in the simplest things 🩷

Your Turn: What is Your Happy Place? Share your happiest place in the comments section below to inspire others.

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