By Joanna Kleovoulou, Clinical Psychologist
How many of you including myself, have heard yourselves postponing your sense of happiness, contentment and joy to a time when you would have achieved your next goal, reached your ideal weight, got your dream job, or got yourselves a new partner, or new home or a new whatever it may be… You end up feeling like you are on a treadmill at its highest setting trying to catch up to happiness.
This frame of mind postpones the feeling of contentment and happiness to a never-ending chase for something more, with the starting point of not having enough in the here-and-now or not being present with what you already are and have. Reading stories of people who have experienced a major disaster, trauma or devastation, many “victims” describe their resilience by having a mental state by being grateful that they have survived , despite those challenging circumstances – a healthy mental state of being, rather than having something, or becoming something or doing something to make you happier.
So happiness is then not a set of preferred circumstances, but being present in the journey called life. Make a list, review it daily and put some into practise – of the natural highs that already exist in your life. You decide. As for me, I’m off to munch on some popcorn. Blissful.
Special Note:
Read feature article in Living and Loving, March 2012, on “Choices, when is your child ready to make decisions”, Joanna Kleovoulou, Clinical Psychologist.
Natasha Sutherland, Actress and mother of 2, will be facilitating the Dealing with Divorce Workshops, so book your spot.