8 questions for a happy life
The beginning of a new year is a good opportunity to consider how you can make space in your life for a happier, healthier you. These question will help you discover the key to your own happiness.
Discover the key to your own happiness by asking yourself some simple questions
Living the life of your dreams goes beyond just ticking things off your ‘should-do’ list. It’s about developing the confidence to truly listen to yourself and to follow the whisperings of your heart. Heeding those whispers can lead to having a sense of purpose in your daily life, which one US study found can also increase levels of happiness and feelings of satisfaction. Author Dan Buettner, who led a global study of populations who live the longest, found that having what the people of Nicoya in Costa Rica call plan de vida is worth up to seven extra years. The concept , which roughly translates to “reason to live”, gives them a sense of purpose. One way to uncover your own meaning in life is to ask the right questions. The following ones will help get you started, whether you go through them on your own or with a friend or counsellor.
Am I happy?
Find a moment to ask yourself this simple question and pay attention to any physical sensations. Your emotions are a good touchstone, and so is your physical body. So when you ask this question, try to feel the answer.
How often do I take time for stillness?
This isn’t about taking a week-long holiday (although if that’s possible go for it!). The answer could be as simple as taking a few minutes of uninterrupted alone time to slow down and develop your awareness of all that is happening around you. Our lives have a tremendous velocity that pushes us – or rather, hurls us – forward. It’s often not until we stop that we’re forced to pause, breathe and consider the bigger picture.
Do I believe I can create the life I want?
Your thoughts, actions and emotions all determine what your life looks like. When you don’t believe you are powerful, you allow others to hold the key to your life and happiness. And when you allow others to hold the power, you limit the options available to you. Know that by listening to your heart and your inner guidance, you truly can create – and live – the life you want.
Do I view life as abundant?
We’re taught that the world is full of ‘not enoughs’, when actually it can be abundant in all forms. Look at where you place your attention: do you tend to complain about what you didn’t get instead of embracing what you did? Abundance comes when you realise that you can receive what you need – every day.
Can I let the past go?
Too often we make choices that are informed by negative events in our past. In order to do that, we often end up closing ourselves off from new experiences and adventures, even people. Ultimately there is freedom in forgiving, letting go of the past, so instead of reliving old trauma or old slights, you keep your focus on what you want.
Do I always expect to have a certain outcome?
You can’t fill a cup that’s already full. That means you can’t approach a new situation, relationship or job with what you think you know will happen. When you do that, you’re not leaving room for the delightfully unexpected. Try starting from a place of ‘Maybe I don’t know’. It allows you to be open to something or someone being different from what you experienced in the past.
Do I trust my own inner guidance?
You do know who you are, and this question is about tuning in to that innate wisdom and self-knowledge. The only way to do that is to cultivate a deeper relationship with yourself – free from the filters of fear and doubt, and free from other people’s ideas and expectations.
When have I felt the most vibrant?
Think back to a moment when you felt most alive and happy. What was it you were doing that made you feel that way? Was it a sense of freedom, adventure or leadership or perhaps of being of service to others? Whatever that feeling was is a clue to where your innate gifts lie.