How to find my Happy Place

[Veiaola]

As title says how do I find my Happy place.
I need some inspiration to try to find my happy. If there has been happiness someone comes along and makes it disappear. What do you do to make yourself feel happy?

ooh that's a good question!
I put on some music and dance! always makes me happy!

What makes you happy?

You need to figure that out and do it.

I get that is hard. I love yoga. Rarely take the time for it. I've recently rediscovered how much I enjoy cycling. Like really very a buzz from it - and I have all these places I want to explore on my bike. But I'm a bit lazy and tend to use it when I need it, rather than just because I want to. But I have been making a point of, at least once a week, to go out on the bike just because, and that's probably when I'm at my happiest.

It's hard to put these things ahead of the never ending list of things to do, but it's worth it.

What makes you happy?

It's trial and error really. My happy place is a local nature place. It makes me feel so at peace and calm, even when I'm really wound up. I also love the feeling I get after a yoga session, and I love treating myself with a hot choc and pastry at home sitting in the sun.

What do you enjoy? Look through some photos and see what appeals.

Thanks for the replies, I have a bike an did enjoy going on it. I seem to have forgotten these.

Life gets in the way sometimes, and it's easy to put yourself last, and in time forget the joy these things bring.

Maybe dig out the bike, think about getting it serviced just to make sure it's all in good nick, and go for a spin. See how you feel?

And BTW, had I seen this thread yesterday I would totally have replied. I think it's a great talking point.

I'm sure many people have been struggling to find their happy place with everything that has gone on this year.

I love riding my bike but I know what you mean, it's easy to just not do those things. Check out the happiness project website, they do a different calendar each month focusing on something to increase positivity. This month is altruistic August

I think it's worth reading up a bit on the theory of feeling good. Martin Seligman is a key author.

I like the PERMAH framework. It stands for Positive emotions (like enjoying a bike ride), engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement and health. The idea is that you need to have things in your life that cover each area to have an overall sense of well-being.

Happiness project website sounds interesting. I have been caring for elderly relative an kinda of forgotten my own needs so as a consequence of that and lockdown my mental health has taken a real knock. I know that I need to sort this out.

I will Google Martin seligman too thank you.

Along the lines of the suggestion above, try Rick Hanson's book Resilient www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1846045819/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bSrlFbFB0P9JJ

You can watch these mini videos that explain his book. It has a basis in neuroscience. www.thefoundationsofwellbeing.com/self-caring-pillar

My job, which is self employed and so I'm never really off duty, is very much about looking after others. I have very much put myself in last place for a long time. I have some understanding of where you are.

For a combination of reasons, I have had a significant amount of time off, and it has really taken that to find my 'reset' button and look after myself better.

Its incredibly hard to balance caring for others with self care. Can I just say I'm impressed that you have reached out to look for help? When you are always supporting others, that can be a, hard thing to do. It's so easy to get into the trap of putting everyone else's needs first.

You are important. Be kind to yourself. Pay attention to what you need and honour that. You deserve that. You really do.

By the way OP I get where you are coming from. I was juggling lots of unhappy in my background prior to lockdown starting. I've managed it well in the past but with the current situation it seems as if the wider Universe has gone to pot too!

Cup of tea, small bar of chocolate, sit on the balcony and water my plant-babies and watch the world. (Everyone out of the flat, leaving me in peace, no one asking for anything or needing anything done for them)

Oops it's called action for happiness, sorry www.actionforhappiness.org/calendars
I'd look into self-compassion OP, it's the basis of self worth and is often an area needing attention in people who care for others. You can't pour from an empty cup remember

I had one if those calendars at work - it was a charity thing. I play the grumpy old sod at work (not really but I pretend I am the resident grump - they know I’m nice really).

Funnily enough I just went to print off one and the size was massive for my printer ‘oh ffs, this stupid bloody thing won’t print...’

My happy place is anywhere in the sunshine by the sea (preferably abroad)

The wind blowing through the trees makes me happy. I love watching the leaves blowing and the sound it makes.

@ChangeThePassword

My job, which is self employed and so I'm never really off duty, is very much about looking after others. I have very much put myself in last place for a long time. I have some understanding of where you are.

For a combination of reasons, I have had a significant amount of time off, and it has really taken that to find my 'reset' button and look after myself better.

Its incredibly hard to balance caring for others with self care. Can I just say I'm impressed that you have reached out to look for help? When you are always supporting others, that can be a, hard thing to do. It's so easy to get into the trap of putting everyone else's needs first.

You are important. Be kind to yourself. Pay attention to what you need and honour that. You deserve that. You really do.

Great Post and excellent message.

Thank you for all the lovely replies to this, much appreciated.

My happy place is the local Lido. I adore swimming and it helps me.