How much time do you spend on things that nourish your soul?

Happiness is an inside job. Once, I thought it was something I pursued outside of myself. I never realized I had everything I needed to live happily. And all I had to do was breathe, surrender, and let it be. Things don’t always have to work out my way for me to feel content.

Life is unpredictable, and happiness is a choice. Whatever I focus on, I will attract. It is Rumi who said it best: “What you seek is seeking you.” By focusing on feeling happy at the moment, I will avoid much dissatisfaction and emotional distress. So, I choose happy thoughts and set intentions to live in bliss. No matter the situation or circumstances, I am in control of the way I feel. I define happiness as an inner state of contentment and satisfaction.

There are days when I experience anxiety, sadness, or other negative emotions. I can choose to wallow in self-pity. Or I can uplift myself by dancing, singing, exercising, creating, or calling a friend. Sometimes, I sit in silence and ask myself, why do I feel this way? What would it take for me to feel happy right now? I accept with an open heart every thought and feeling that comes because sometimes happiness requires me to acknowledge and embrace unpleasant feelings as well.

“In many shamanic societies if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comfortable by the sweet territory of silence?”

-Gabrielle Roth

Happiness is our true nature, the essence of our being. Hence, it comes from within you. With happiness, everyone around you feels it. The key is finding happiness in the process of everything you do and not relying so much on the end goal. When you feel happy, you manifest more reasons to be happy. There is no price for happiness. It’s a state of mind. So, are you happy? If not, what would make you happy? How much time do you spend on things that nourish your soul?