After writing my last blog “Ten Secrets That Can Transform Your Life,” a thought popped into my head to write about each of the ten secrets.  I usually follow those “inspired action” ideas, so here are my thoughts about the first secret “everything you need to be happy is inside of you.”

External vs. Internal Happiness

Many people believe that they have to look outside themselves for happiness.  They expect certain external circumstances, such as people, places, or possessions, to bring them pleasure and MAKE them happy.  They say “I’ll be happy when I meet the man of my dreams!”, “I’ll be happy when I go on vacation”, or “I’ll be happy when I get my new car!”.  And while experiencing these things may bring momentary joy, in the long run, this kind of happiness cannot be sustained.

This first secret asks you to consider the possibility that happiness comes from the inside of you.  You are the only one who can make you truly happy. Marci Shimoff calls this “Happy for No Reason,” which is found at the top of her “Happiness Continuum”, and is defined as an “inner state of peace and well-being.” When Marci asked “Happy for No Reason” type people to describe it, they all had similar answers.  They talked about having a sense of lightness or expansion, feeling alive and full of energy, being open and “in the flow”, having love and compassion for themselves and others, being passionate about their lives, feeling gratitude and forgiveness, having inner peace, and being able to be fully present in the moment.

Knowing What You Want

So, how do you achieve this internal happiness state? A key factor is being in touch with yourself and your desires, and knowing what you want.  Children are really good at this.  They make it very clear what they want from moment to moment.  However, most adults tend to lose sight of what they want. We have been taught that we should focus on others, and that it is somehow selfish and self-centered to focus on ourselves. When you let go of these limiting beliefs, you can be open to identifying what makes you feel alive, what you are passionate about, what inspire your love, and what brings you inner peace.  All this knowledge is inside of  you.  You just have to learn to hear it with your heart and not your head.

The Power of Choice

As you become more comfortable with who you are and what you want, you can then choose to live your life from that desirable place.  At any moment, you can stop, take a few deep breaths, and feel into what choices will allow you to open your heart and expand your energy into a place of happiness, and which ones will close your heart with fear and contraction.  If you believe in the Law of Attraction and that what you put your attention on is what you get in life, then the more you focus of choosing happiness for yourself, the happier your life will be.  It may take some time and effort to practice, but I know you will find it inside of you…

To your happiest life!

Coach Cecily

Happiness · Happy for No Reason · inner peace · Law of Attraction · LOA · Marci Shimoff