HAPPINESS

“Happiness consists more in conveniences of pleasure that occur everyday than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.”– Benjamin Franklin

Happiness is used in the context of mental or emotional states, including positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. It is also used in the context of life satisfaction, subjective well-being, flourishing and well-being.

Why Happiness is Important

The fundamental reason why happiness is so important is that it’s extremely vital to our own goals in life and can help us achieve many other cherished personal ambitions and goals. Also, by being happy, we have the potential to change many other lives just by being ourselves.

How often have you been in a place and there’s been something about the mood or atmosphere that doesn’t quite seem right? When happiness is on board, this not only affects you but it has positive effects on all those with whom you come into contact.

So, it’s the ‘domino’ effect and it all begins with you as an individual. As you spread those feelings they are taken on board by those around you who also spread them in turn. If you can imagine the impact this would create if the feeling was then perpetuated and multiplied by hundreds, then thousands and then millions of people? There would be no use for wars or terrorism in the world which is another example of why happiness is so important.

Tips for Happiness

Reach out to others. You may have good people in your life but have been out of touch. Picking up the phone and giving old friends a call can brighten both of your days and perhaps your lives as well.
Remember that happiness is an inside job. That means that no one but you can really make you happy, even though it may not feel that way. When I see a smile on the face of someone I care about, it makes me happy, especially if I helped put it there. Maybe it is an inside job after all.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you are relying on one set of circumstances or person to make you happy, it probably won’t happen. You need to broaden your scope of friends and activities. Also, know that engaging in new adventures creates brain chemicals that add to your happiness.
Trust your gut. When we go against our instincts, and it backfires, we usually feel sad. Follow your intuition and let it guide you toward people and things that will make your life just a tiny bit better. Day by day, your happiness will grow.
Is meditation for you? Most books on happiness say that meditation is key, but most people don’t know even how to get started. There are classes all over the place, CDs, downloads, and websites—and you can also try just being nature. The idea is to allow you to calm yourself, so you can feel the good things that your fear and sadness are pushing away.
Organize your thoughts. Many people push away happiness when they are overwhelmed. When you keep everything in your head, it can be difficult to get the perspective you need. Try making lists of the things that seem too big to manage on your own. You may find that you can do most of these things on your own and that the list isn’t as long as you thought, but if you need help, ask for it.
Stay away from people who bring you down. This may sound simple, but if you are living with those people, it can be very complicated. In that case, a family therapy session could be very helpful. Many people don’t recognize that they are making life difficult for others, and in a group setting with a trained professional, they can learn to behave differently without feeling attacked.
Look at the big picture. Most of the things that prevent us from feeling happy are day-to-day life issues. Once in a while, you go through something that makes the little things seem inconsequential, and this is when you need to remember that life is still going on, and whatever the issue is, it will end. Look at your life as a whole—not just the bad parts.
Value your values. We all have a value system, a way we have decided to go through life, which makes us feel like a good person. When you know what works and what doesn’t, it can make your life a whole lot easier. The important thing to remember is to not lose sight of your values when life becomes a roller coaster. Keeping your values strong will help create happiness.
Play more. Sometimes we get so involved in doing our lives and problem solving that we forget to take time to have some fun. You may have to block out a day for fun in your calendar. But the important thing is to have a little joy every day to keep you going and growing.

Happiness can be hard to feel at times, so don’t think there is something wrong with you if you don’t feel it. We all go through phases, and some people are just naturally happier than others, so try to avoid comparing yourself with others. The truth is that happiness is here for you, and using the techniques above will allow you to feel more of it.

Yoga Poses for Happiness

Try these playful yoga poses to boost your energy and create a lighter, happier you:

1. Cat-Cow Poses

Use cat and cow pose to calm the constant fluctuations of the mind and relax your nervous system, and create gentle movement through the body, inviting the flow of positive energy through your body.

Mantra: “I will find joy in my journey today.”

2. Warrior II Pose

Use this pose to release stress and tension, and remind yourself that you can stand strong, that you are invincible and amazing in everything that you do!

Mantra: “I am in charge of how I feel, and today I choose happiness.”

3. Dancer

This beautiful pose just oozes with grace and elegance, and feelings of lightness and happiness, while at the same time literally releasing tension in the hips and opening up the heart.

Mantra: “I welcome freedom, energy and lightness.”

4. Goddess Pose

Let this energizing and empowering pose remind you that you're completely in charge of your own happiness.

Mantra: “I am a strong, confident yogi/yogini and invite only love and happiness.”

5. Wheel Pose

Backbends are proven to release endorphins. The deep opening through the front of the body helps to relive stress and energize the body.

Mantra: “Open heart and open mind to all that comes my way.”

6. Pigeon Pose

Create space for all of the positivity and happiness that you welcome as you say goodbye to any tension that you may be holding in your hips.

Mantra: “Be happy, be bright, be you.”

7. Reclined Bound Angle Pose

We live in a crazy busy world, so use this pose to remember how important it is to be able to find calmness and stillness.

Mantra: “I deserve happiness and positivity.”

Essential Oil Therapy

BITTER ORANGE

Bitter orange or wild orange as it is sometimes called, smells fresh and tart and similar to Neroli. It is sometimes preferred from the usual sweet orange which is more common. Bitter orange as well as sweet orange increase positivity. If your low mood is also accompanied by low energy, try the refreshing and revitalizing wild orange essential oil. With powerful, uplifting aroma, orange oil has proven benefits for creating feelings of happiness that can improve energy levels.

LIME

Lime essential oil has a sweet and tangy scent that is perfect to give you the kick you need, without being too overly powerful. It promotes energy flow in the body and works really well for uplifting your moods and re-focusing your mind. We use lime essential oil is our Happy, Invigorate and Revive blends.

VETIVER

This essential oil is related to lemongrass with an earthier tone. It stimulates moods and helps you let go of bad moods rooted in anxiety, nervous energy, or anger. It is also known to help with sleep problems and insomnia but calming down the nervous system.

GRAPEFRUIT

Grapefruit essential oil is an excellent stress reliever and is very beneficial in decreasing mental fatigue. With its distinctive tart, sparkling, clarifying scent, it is a real mood booster.

CHAMOMILE

Chamomile is widely known for its sleep-inducing powers, but this soothing calming oil has a knack ability to ease depression and sadness, by promoting relaxation.

LAVENDER

Lavender is one of the most versatile oils for aromatherapy owing to its ability to calm and inducing sleep. However, it is also effective in easing depression, tension headaches, and anxiety and uplifting moods.

MANDARIN GREEN

Mandarin green essential oil is obtained from the rind of the mandarin orange. It has numerous emotional benefits including uplifting moods, calming the mind, relaxing the body, and inducing sleepiness. It possesses sedative, anti-anxiety properties.

PETITGRAIN

Petitgrain’s woodsy citrus fragrance makes it a very popular essential citrus oil for treating not only physical but also emotional issues. It is popular for its ability to promote relaxation and calmness. It helps to deal with stress and anxiety as well as nervousness due to its chemical makeup. Petitgrain’s oil comes from the same plant as bitter orange and Neroli and is from the fresh twigs and leaves of the tree. It is also effective for combating insomnia.

Meditation

Chakras, Breathing, Loving Kindness, Sensory and Deep meditation

Meditation