‘Head Space’: The happiness discussion
By Independent columnist Brandon W. Hahn
There are many opinions on happiness and how we achieve it.
Is it a choice? A decision? Something that just happens to us?
They say money doesn’t buy happiness, but there’s an old joke that I’d rather be crying in my BMW than crying on my bicycle.
I can appreciate that.
I’ve lived through the process of discovering that money isn’t necessarily the answer to happiness. Although, you can certainly buy things that make you happy.
For a while, anyway.
But I also believe that sometimes happiness is a decision. When you can, choose to be happy.
However, depression, sadness, anger and all the other emotions we experience can make happiness seem completely out of reach. I’ve been there.
And I’m certainly not suggesting that somebody suffering from depression can simply decide to snap out of it.
But when happiness is available to us, why resist it? I think happiness is easily one of our best emotions.
It’s another form of love, actually. And love might just be the epitome of happiness.
The interesting thing is that we usually know what makes us happy. It’s different for everyone, but we have a pretty good idea of where to look.
Take a brisk walk.
Notice what our higher powers have given us. Nature. Wildlife. A flower growing through a crack in the sidewalk. A butterfly flitting around in the wind.
A bird you’ve never noticed before. Someone else’s BMW.
Watch a cool show that’s new to you. Play that video game. Read that book that’s right up your alley.
Hug a tree and thank it for the oxygen.
I’m not sure the tree will appreciate the gesture, but you’ve probably accomplished something.
Take a trip down memory lane. And while you’re there, look for the glimmers.
I like thinking of glimmers as the greatest of our memories. Little rewards for surviving the trauma and triggers that we sometimes seem determined to hold onto.
We spend an incredible amount of time remembering what hurt us.
Maybe we could spend a little more time remembering what made us happy.
The people. The places. The ridiculous things we did. The tiny victories that meant everything at the time.
And don’t resist happiness when it comes along. Hold hands. Give hugs. Offer compliments.
Try to let the compliments overpower the insults.
Believe in the things you’ve accomplished, even the small ones. Especially the small ones.
I think we’re sometimes so busy looking for the next big thing that we forget to enjoy what’s already happening.
Happiness is only one emotion among an entire universe of emotions.
We can’t live there permanently. And maybe we’re not supposed to.
But when it visits, even during some of our darker hours, let it stay for a while.
We are here to marvel at our worlds. We can heal from our darkness.
And when we can, we can choose to be happy.
Brandon W. Hahn is a podcaster, screenwriter and mental health advocate. He hosts Snackable Mental Health on YouTube and writes about the strange business of being human.
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