Where does happiness come from?
My father is responsible for teaching me how to be happy. He didn’t wait for happiness to find him. He was a happiness magician.
Is there a place in your life where you are regularly afraid, sad, or lonely? Today, I want to show you how to invite happiness into that place. I’m sharing my father’s lessons so you can find your own happiness handles as you swing on the jungle gym of life.
- I tell you about the mentor in my life who taught me to find the happiness handles even in the bleakest circumstances.
- We’ll discuss how shared stories of happiness can deepen the intimacy you feel.
- And I’ll invite you to strengthen your own happiness muscles so you can find comfort even when you’re scared or struggling.
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Practice happiness and create a handle to hold onto
The first time I was actually aware my dad PRACTICED happiness I was nine years old when he put me on a 4-hour flight bound for Colorado. That summer he moved to Pennsylvania with his wife and her three kids—my new siblings. I wouldn’t see him again until Christmas.
As he walked me onto the plane, he told me a story that made us both laugh in the midst of tremendous grief. This moment was powerful. My dad knew how to create a happiness handle even in the middle of the absolute worst moment of our shared lives.
He slipped the secret code for creating happiness into my pocket that day on the plane. Then he repeated the lesson over and over in my life.
Try this:
This week’s habit for your happily ever after is to practice happiness in a moment when you don’t feel all that happy.
Happiness is a muscle. You need to practice happiness to make it stronger.
True happiness lives in the tension between the soft and the strong—the things that make us feel held and the things that prove we can hold ourselves up.
The recipe for abiding joy is one part comfort. One part courage.
You feel joy when you put on a cozy sweater. It’s so soft! You also feel joy when you cross the finish line of a long, hard race. Your confidence soars!
Now I want to ask you a question: when does the sweater feel the softest—when you’ve just gotten out of a warm bed after a good night sleep? Or does that sweater feel softer when you put it on after a long, hard day?
It’s worth it to create and to reach for your happiness handles. Life can feel scary. And many times you have reason to be afraid. You’re stretching: whether you’re taking your first plane ride alone and lonely, or because you’re navigating a brand new role of manager or mother.
The recipe for happiness is rest + stretch. When you stretch you build your confidence.
Date Night Discussion
This week, talk with your partner about happiness handles.
- Talk about how you have provided happiness handles for each other.
- Or talk about a person who taught you to practice happiness.
- Or you could tell your partner about a person in your life that could benefit from your happiness practice.
Include me.
You know that I love to be included in your life. I’d love to know about the happiness handles in your life. Text me at 970-210-4480 and tell me what’s helping your to be stronger to make it over the pit of hot lava today.
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