By Lisa Cypers Kamen.
Happiness can be likened to hidden treasure – and just like you would use a map to seek that treasure – you can seek happiness in life. The biggest question you are faced with when seeking happiness is how? How do I find that small nugget of happiness in a chaotic life?
Do I even have happiness in my life? Sometimes we can’t even see it. Just like someone looking for gold or some other treasure, you have to dig for it and keep searching until you find it. Put in a simpler way – you have to look for it.
It doesn’t have to be a big event that makes you happy either. It could be that your child learned to tie their shoes by themselves or that you stopped and took in the sunset at the end of a long day…and it made you smile. Maybe you helped someone and they thanked you for it. It all starts with you! You have to be willing to open yourself up to finding those previously hidden “nuggets” of happiness.
Take the time to recognize and appreciate those moments in your life. You can even share your happiness with a friend or someone else in your life that you are close to if you want – they will be happy for you. This keeps the happiness going and your sharing it contributes to someone else’s happiness and well-being. Make the choice now to seek the happy moments in your life. They are there if you take the time to look.
Lisa Cypers Kamen is a filmmaker, positive psychology coach, author, host of Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio, professor and lecturer specializing in the field of sustainable happiness. She is widely recognized as an expert on the subject. Lisa’s acclaimed documentary film co-produced with her now fifteen year-old daughter, Kayla, “H-Factor…Where is your heart?” explores how people in varied circumstances find, generate and share happiness. In addition to her film on happiness, Lisa has also published a number of articles and books entitled, Got Happiness Now?, Are We Happy Yet?, Leadership: Helping Others to Succeed and Reintegration Strategies, about combat trauma and using positive psychology principles to create wellness in a post-war new normal. Lisa’s written work is featured on blogs for the Huffington Post, PositivelyPositive.com and InspireMeToday.com and she is a TEDx community event speaker. In addition, she is the Happiness Expert for the Florida Department of Citrus/ Florida Orange Juice in its Take on the Day campaign.
Harvesting Happiness for Heroes™ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that delivers stigma-free integrated combat trauma recovery services to warriors and their loved ones. Modalities include scientifically proven strengths based Positive Psychology coaching and interdisciplinary tools such as film, yoga, meditation, art and creative writing designed to mindfully empower the client to achieve increased self-mastery, self-esteem and reclaim her/his life. HH4Heroes focuses on the balance of mind, body and emotion resulting in greater overall wellbeing and the transformation of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) into Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG). HH4Heroes offers retreat workshops, one-on-one coaching, Battle Buddy programs, as well as our new R.E.B.O.O.T Online virtual community coaching classrooms designed to reach underserved areas. In addition, HH4Heroes deploys Return to Duty™ civilian and corporate training to help welcome a warrior home and into the community and workplace.
Lisa is committed to teaching Happiness is an inside job™ and helping others end their needless suffering through intentionally cultivating greater joy.
“Do I even have happiness in my life?”
Absolutely. Here are some things I’m grateful for:
1. Richard’s love
2. Mikko McPupper’s love
3. The fact that Mikko’s a columnist =)
4. Writer Advice, http://www.writeradvice.com
5. Sunshine
6. Food, shelter, and comfortable clothing
7. Steam rising off a warm cup of coffee
8. Reliable transportation
9. Legs & feet that get me from Point A to Point B
10. Life unfolding, one day at a time
Joy or happiness? I seek joy that finds happiness even during difficulties rather than transient events or things.