It’s been quite a rough few years. This year, there is genuine hope in the air, yet we may still feel apprehensive and agitated by our changing world.
This can, of course, make it a little harder to stay positive and be happy. There should be no expectation that we will quickly and easily merge back in with what is considered a normal life. But, there are little things we can do to have a happy (and happier) 2022.
Focus On The Present
We have lived in a fight or flight mode the last few years. Our minds and bodies have been on high alert as we raced forward with the possibilities of what could happen or what restrictions lay ahead. We were in a constant state of stress and living in the future.
Take a step back. Pause and breathe. Bring yourself right back to living in the present. This is where life happens, after all. The small moments, the passing experiences, the gentle smiles and loud laughs. To help us focus on the present, we can live mindfully.
Be Mindful
Mindfulness became the buzzword of the pandemic as we reached for solutions to centre our humming minds. But mindfulness is not a fad. It is a skill that can be used to focus our attention and recognise our thoughts and feelings without judging ourselves.
To be mindful, pay attention to everything around you. Use your five senses to experience your world. Accept yourself for who you are and try to be intentional in all you do.
Appreciate The Little Things
Life is made of small moments, and it is in these moments that we are truly living. Learn to appreciate the little things such as climbing into fresh bedsheets, watching your kids play and laugh together, or the smell of a freshly mowed lawn.
Show Gratitude
Routinely showing gratitude for these little things, or for the friends and family who lift you, even the food in your fridge, and the roof over your head will help you to appreciate all that you have. Showing gratitude daily by keeping a journal, or telling a friend how much they mean to you, is known to lower stress and raise our happiness levels.
Love, Laugh, Forgive And Have Fun
Love yourself and love others by showing them, saying sorry, and forgiving. Laugh, have fun for a happier 2022, and if you are not in love with your life, figure out how to change it. You are in control.
Slow Down
As I say, there are no expectations in life. There is no perfect. To be happy, we need to abandon the idea that we have to be anything other than who we are, that we have to do more than we can, or that we have to compare and live up to societies standards. Slow down, live your life, and be happy.
