Can you be Happy every day?
I don’t pretend to be an expert in anyway. But I have always been a strong believer in happiness. And I do believe that you can be happy every day.
Since 2014 I have used social media to share my happiness. Following a project called 100 happy days.
The idea is that for 100 days you find a reason to be happy each day. The website states that 71% of people who tried, failed to complete it, stating a lack of time for the reason.
Too busy to be happy?
I can’t tell you how sad this makes me, that some of us are too busy to find a moment to reflect on any happiness we might have felt that day.
Life is incredibly busy and it is easy to feel overwhelmed by it all at times, but that should never take away from those small and happy moments.
Much like my daily journal, making time to reflect is really important to me.
It is so easy to think that life is a bit crap when we only focus on the bad or the mundane stuff.
In reality though finding happiness can be difficult if we are looking for huge moments. Those moments where we feel completely elated, blown over by happiness.
Happiness does not have to be about these wonderful days which are filled with joy, they can be as simple as making it through the day. 3 days this month my happy day’s post has been a picture of my bed… Seriously!
But this is exactly what I mean. Anything that brings you a small moment of joy, or relief or raises a smile should be celebrated.
Reflecting
For me, I take a few moments, usually just before I go to bed to find a picture I have taken that day or quickly take one and head straight over to Instagram. A quick caption and a hashtag and I am done.
That’s it. Just a few minutes to reflect on the day. Quick and easy and I can guaruntee that I go to bed feeling much more positive than I would had I not found something to be happy about.
I also write up the caption in a 5 year diary. Just a small note to remind myself about each day. I have done this for 6 years now and I sit back and feel nothing but gratitude.
Grateful for a life filled with happiness. Days filled with love and laughter and family and friends. To the days where I have struggled to find a reason to post, I am grateful because there is always a reason, big or small.
Plus having seen some of the really unusual notes my Grandmother made in her diary that make absolutely no sense to us but would have been hugely significant to her, makes me laugh out loud. One day my children will find mine and think I was crazy!
Forcing Happiness
I am not suggesting at any point should we force ourselves happy. What I am saying is that we should begin to focus more on the positives.
Allowing yourself that is a form of Self-care. We deserve to be happy. If I am really struggling, I will often think about the things that make me smile.
Have a think about what really makes you smile, no matter how simple and go and do it. That smile raised could be just the happy moment you need to change your whole day around.
2020
Now this brings me to my point… I do have one!
I was looking at a new way to round up my month. Last year I did a monthly review like this one for example. It was always fun but not as popular as other posts.
I had a good think and following the success of my look back at the last decade I felt inspired.
#Happydays
I decided to pick a picture a week from those that I use for my Happy days post to share on my blog, almost an online photo album or journal.
A visual reminder of some of the great moments each month. Maybe I will actually start taking photographs more frequently as that does tend to be my biggest pitfall.
My biggest issue this month is all of the things that have made me incredibly happy are all TOP SECRET! No matter how desperate I have been to share with you all, I have had to hold myself back.
I’ll give you a clue… Wedding planning!
Week one
The new year sales seem to be the perfect time to go Bridesmaid dress shopping. I didn’t really know what I wanted and I fairly quickly.. as in before we’d even looked.. decided that we probably wouldn’t find anything I wanted.
I am never normally this defeatist! Well maybe I should think that way more frequently because the first shop, less than an hour and we were done!
Just like that. I saved money, I got dresses I love and they both look lovely. Not that I am showing you lot of course!
I had forgotten just how much fun shopping can be when you’re not either racing to get back to the family or dragging a reluctant family behind you.
We drank coffee, we made plans, we were ladies that lunched. It was the best day and I really need to make an effort to do things like this more often.
Week 2
Again wedding related. I promise it won’t always be this way… Well maybe! This week we went to see our wedding venue all set up. And that is why you are only getting the room we’d be getting married in if we weren’t going for a Church.
It was lovely to take the children with us and involve them in all the plans. Plus they put on their own fake wedding which just turned in to a big dance off somehow!
What’s not to be happy about there?
Week 3
To celebrate Rob’s 40th Birthday, we had a weekend away in Cheltenham. We stopped on the way at Croome, a National Turst property near Worcester.
Thanks to a giant mirror we were able to get a picture of the 2 of us together! Very rare! It was a beautiful weekend, the sun was shining and we just had a perfect time. Cocktails, good food and lots of quiet time.
Happy Birthday my Darling! Lots of reasons to be very happy.
Week 4
This boy has been the subject for I would say 85% of my Happy days in the last 6 years but his 12th Birthday marked 12 years of being a Mum and that is the ultimate in happiness.
I can’t quite believe he has been around for 12 years. He had a brilliant day full of fun, presents, star wars and family.
A really enjoyable few days celebrating for us all.
Week 5
Would you look at my lovely new super king bed! Yes SUPER KING! And I tell you what, its a good job it’s so big given the space the builders have left between the bedside plug sockets! *rolls eyes*
This bed related happiness actually means it is the 4th sleep related happy day in just 31 days. I think it is clear that sleeping makes me very happy.
That’s it, a look back at the highlights of Happy days for January.
What makes you happy? Do you think you could complete 100 happy days?
Yes, yes , yes… we need to learn to focus on the positive not the negative in life. I think this is a great thing you’re doing 😍
Thanks for sharing.
Love, Tea
https://teaspangsberg.com/2020/01/30/january-roundup/
I’ve not heard of this 100 days of happy but what a lovely concept. I used to keep a gratitude journal a few years ago, so not pictures, just a notebook, and it really made all the difference to how I felt at bed time. I think I might start it up again, it’s hard to remember all the positive things that happen six months down the line. Great post, Claire, and happy wedding planning! X
I do believe we can be happy every day if we give ourselves permission to but having said that I think there’s nothing wrong with a bit of a down day every now and then because life does have its natural peaks and troughs
I agree. I do think it is important to hold on to those moments that bring joy though especially during darker times x
I think you can be but like you said you need to be reflective and appreciate the good things you have going on in your life.
I think you have so many lovely reasons to be happy but like you say, it takes time and practice to reflect and see it all! You have some great tips and ideas of how to do it though 🙂
I read something recently about the dalai lama and the difference between happiness and pleasure. One is more fleeting and occurs in more bursts whereas the other exists more consistently. How, sometimes we pursue pleasure when we should happiness. It is an interesting consideration when seeking happiness. Great post and a worthy pursuit.
Thank you Aaron. I also heard something recently about happiness vs contentment. What we feel mostly is contentment but mistake it for happiness. Not sure I agree with that, I much prefer the Dalai Lama
It’s so easy to get sucked in to negative thoughts when you have a bad moment, but you’re so right about making the effort to focus on the positive instead! I haven’t heard of 100 days of happiness, but it sounds fab – and sounds like you’ve got a lot of happy to focus on right now too!
Very jealous of your new Super King sized bed… all that space! I totally agree that you should find time to reflect on your day, if only for a couple of minutes. Even the longest day ever will feature good bits too! Sim x
I bet he still finds his way over to my side and hogs the duvet! Thanks Sim x x
Yes indeed. I think you can be happy every day, thanks for the reminders! Lovely post.
Mark / Mark’s Travel Journal
https://www.markstraveljournal.me
What a lovely project! I’ve been happier since i’ve stopped reacting to things so badly, the quote that lifes 10% what happens and 90% how you respond is so true
I think that is spot on!
I have practised “The Magic” by Rhonda Byrne 6 times – finding that the 28-day practice really brings up in me a new sense of happiness. After about 3 months, the “novelty” of it is started to wear off, but I have discovered (having done it now 6 times over 2 years) that I notice the little things so much more easily! There is a magic to it!
I’ve also never heard of the 100 day challenge, but it sounds great! Its amazing that you’ve been able to find positive things every day during the 6 years of January lol. You’ve really made me think about my attitude towards life. I might have to give something similar a go.
I hope you find a way to join in Hannah x x
I have not heard of that. I have had blips where I feel like I could give up, almost complacent I guess. But something wonderful will happen and reaffirm my need to carry on x x
I would like to think I could be happy everyday. I set out to be happy.
That is great Linda, positivity certainly breeds good things x
OMG that super king bed is exactly what i’d love. I’d be very happy if I had one of those. Sleep makes me happy too.
I can not WAIT to get my body in to that bed! 11 days and counting x x
There are too many things to be happy about in my life. My husband, my career, and, most important, my kids. Everyday I see happiness all around me
How wonderful Brianne, happiness is there if we look for it x
All about focus – what you focus on grows – I love simple things daily routines cups of tea, writing, adventures with the dogs and good food, catching up with friends, music that sort of thing
Lovely things to focus on Kate x x
I would love to be happy everyday and I am always set my mind for that but sometimes we can’t really avoid being sad because pf negative things or bad moments.
I agree, but when we feel like that it is important that we find a moment that does make us happy x
It is sad thay some people feel they don’t have the time to be happy. (The time to put it on social media is an entirely different thing.) I think a lot of people overthink it. Even in deep depression for 2 years not one day went by where something didn’t give me a moment of respite, whether it be a cat purring or the smell of fresh coffee. Sometimes that moment was hard to get at, but it was there.
I agree. It doesn’t need to be something big, quite often a simple coffee can lift my spirits x
Love this! You’re so right…. we are just TOO BUSY to even find something to be happy about!? Sounds like a great challenge you are taking part in! 🙂 I love the idea of finding something each day x
The real challenge is taking a picture that depicts said happiness but I am making a real effort to do that now x
I always try and find the positives in a day but a couple of days ago I just didn’t feel happy at all. I went for a walk and listened to music and I soon cheered right up.
They are my go to as well, there is certainly always a way to lift our spirits x
I try and find something happy in every day, life is too short to be miserable. I loved wedding planning, good luck with it all
Thank you Kara, I am having a blast! Although I am very nearly done and with 10 months to go, I am feeling pretty smug lol x x
This is EXACTLY my plan for 2020. I’ve embarked on a radical overhaul of my entire family’s physical wellness … with the end result, hopefully, being that we’re much less stressed and lot happier 🙂
That’s wonderful Tracey, I hope it is a wonderful and happy year for you all xx
I do think it’s possible to be happy everyday as you just need to focus on the good things which outweigh the day. For me it’s been spending time with loved ones and enjoying being engaged x
Oh being engaged! Love that! Have you set a date yet?
That is such a great outlook on life. I try to find happiness in every day, even if it’s just a really small thing like cuddles from my kids after an otherwise rubbish day.
A cuddle from my boy will quite often be the thing that changes my outlook on the day x x
I’ve never heard of this but would definitely be willing to give it a go. Happiness is so important for our mental well being
I think it is one of the most important elements. It can make a huge difference x
Absolutely, I think you have to focus on yourself and you can be happy. Often we let outside factors sway our own happiness.
It is very easy to allow life to get in the way of our happiness x x
I love the spirit of this post so much. I always think that happiness is almost a decision we have to make. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering but the little things that happen during a day can make us happy if we just let it. Wedding planning is SO much fun:) I still, 13 years later remeber it as one of the happiest most fun times in my life. And girl, I SO get you on the bed thing! We got ours about 4 months ago, and ever since then, it is very hard for us to stay somewhere else overnight. We just enjoy our bed so much.
I can’t wait to get our new bed! I can actually imagine spending a huge amount of downtime in it as well. Maybe I can wedding plan from my bed. Thank you much Madi x x
I love this idea! It’s so important to overlook the little happy and joyful moments in life, it can be incredibly fulfilling to have a collection of pictures or small snippets of memories in either a digital or written format to look back on. I think I’m going to try this, and see if helps me in the long run. Thanks for sharing! I hope you have a wonderful day 🙂
Take care,
Sophie x | Love and Literature
https://www.loveandliterature.co.uk/
Thank you Sophie, I completely agree x
I think it’s OK not to be happy every day, but it’s always a good idea to try and find a bright point on even the gloomy days.
I totally agree x
I love the idea of using a picture a week to document happy times. It seems like the perfect way to round it up.
Thank you Rebecca x x x
Very thought provoking post! When I initially read your title my instinct reaction was no way! But honestly I think if I really took the time at the end of the day to reflect on everything had happened, even the small things there would be happiness in each of my days even if only a small moment. Your post has definitely made me realise I need to take more time to reflect on my day and make time to reflect on the happiness too!
Oh Jess, I am so pleased that my post changed your view on the title. I think it is so important to find reasons to be happy and really feel grateful xx
It’s a wonderful concept and there are many days where I will smile, but then there are days where I feel sad. But I do think over time these sad days will become less.
Sadness is never too far away, but more so when we forget to find the good x x
It can be so easy to get caught up in the negative, stressful parts of our days and miss the glimmers of sunshine.
There is always light isn’t there x x
I’m planning to make a grateful journal to keep myself positive and happy towards my life <3 Nice read though!
Thank you x x
This is the attitude everyone should have! Thank you for helping us to focus on the important things!
Thank you Vanessa xx x
I haven’t started the 100 days of happy challenge, but just being grateful for the small things is something to start with! We should always be grateful!
I agree Aniysa x x
Love this! I find reflecting super helpful in particular. Counting our blessings and listing out loud all the things that we have going on for us in our life is such an instant confidence booster for me. Thank you for sharing your tips!
Didi | http://www.didicrawford.com
Thank you Didi! I love that statement about confidence. It is so true x x
A friend needed a pick me up and I told her to start a gratitude journal. She said she tried before and could not. I told her she had to be specific – not I had a good day but found a new coffee shop at lunch time. Smaller experiences that can light you up. Your right we get caught up thinking we need something to rock the world when all we need is a good coffee, a smile from a stranger or a seat on the bus.
That is exactly it! I love that x x
I like doing the 100 Happy Days too in the run up to my birthday. It helps me to remember that even if a day has been rubbish there’s always moments of happiness that can be found within it!
Thats a great idea running up to your birthday!I think those less obvious moments are usually the most special x
This is exactly the post I needed to read! I’m guilty of letting trivial things get in the way of my happiness, when in reality there’s much more to be happy about than sad! Thank you for sharing 🙂
So glad I could help! We do have far more to be happy about than we sometimes think x x
I think this sounds like a lovely idea, but I would probably forget I was supposed to be posting something after about day four. 😂 I always hesitate to participate in challenges that encourage posting every day, because I know eventually I will miss a day and then feel bad and miss more days. 🤔
You know my biggest problem, its forgetting to take a picture of the happy moment. I suppose that does mean that I am too busy living the moment for real rather than through my phone x x
I love the idea of challenging yourself to reflect and acknowledge at least one thing in your day which made you happy. A while back I tried to do this with gratitude. Even when I’d had a ‘bad’ day I can almost always find something I was grateful for. It made me realise I write days off as bad really quickly and it made me appreciate the small stuff. Also, congrats on your wedding!
Thank you so much Emma! I think practising gratitude is so important x
It’s hard to be happy all of the time but we need to try to be positive, smile, laugh, and have as many happy thoughts as possible. I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine.
This is awesome! You brought a smile on my face, seriously! I love to read and talk and gratitude. And when you said that we often wait for something really big to e happy, I took a pause and reflected on myself. And I found the reason to be happy today!
I’m so glad you found your reason to be happy 💕
Loved the positivity of this post! My partner and I tell each other three positive things we’ve each experienced in our day to try and remain optimistic!
Also, your new bed looks incredible 😍
I can’t wait for it to arrive! Although we are not going to use it until the master bedroom is complete….. It’s killing me!
I think it’s really important to concentrate on things that do make us happy. If we can’t be happy every day, then it is important to feel good most days of the week
Love love LOVE this post! Going to write down something I’m happy about every day for as long as I can. Definitely will help put things in perspective for me.
Thank you Thia! I really hope it brings you as much happiness as it has bought me x
Great post. We do need a reminder now and then of the things we have in our lives and to be happy about them. Sometimes we get so caught up in life that we forget to make time for happiness.
We really do, it is so easy to do though. Life is so busy x
Ooh, I love the topic of happiness. Have you read The Happiness Project? So good.
I definitely tend towards happiness and have started writing a few notes in a journal before bed too. Things I’m grateful for, stuff I’ve achieved that day, etc. It’s a great way to end the day.
Fab post, as always. Look forward to catching more of your monthly happiness posts. Xx
No I have not read that but might have to give it a go.
I think reflecting in a journal is so good for the soul x x
Great photos and love this idea. I took part in #100happydays on Instagram a few years ago, and completed it! Maybe I should do it again.
Oh yes you should. It is pretty much the only thing I post on Instagram these days x x
This is an amazing idea! I started doing something similar but I call it gratitude journal. Basically, each morning I write down 5 things I am grateful for from the previous day. And I try to make them smaller things to help me realize that even on a really bad day there were things that happen that make me happy. I have been doing that for over a year now and absolutely love it.
I love that idea as well. It is so easy to over look how much we have to be happy about and feel blessed x x
I think it is possible to be happy every single day, it is truly all about perspective, I find joy in the small things in my life.
It is so important to hold on to those small things x
I like how inspirational your blog is.
Touching every corner of my heart in every way.
Thank you so much x x
Wow, not sure if I could be happy every day, though maybe if I reflected there would be moments of happiness during the day. I guess it really is trying to focus on the good things and to be grateful for them.
Just focusing on the good will allow a little happiness in each day x x
I definitely agree with not forcing yourself to be happy but instead focusing on the positives. I think there’s a difference between being happy and being grateful. You can have such a shit day but still take the time to be grateful at the end of it. I personally don’t think it’s natural to be happy every day – for any period of time. I think you can be content but life throws you so many curve balls that you just don’t know what’s going to happen from day to day. But it’s all about your attitude really – some people would cause the minor-ist of things to make them unhappy (like a late train) but others wouldn’t. Oooh this post has really got me thinking! xxx
I love this…such a positive message. I like the fact that you do focus of the positive things it certainly helps mindset for sure xx
I love the idea of finding a happy moment every day. I’ve been writing a weekly round up for 14 weeks and taking the time each day to think of a good moment has definitely helped me deal with the tough days.
Your happy pictures are brilliant! Keep ’em coming.
Thank you, You’re right stopping to reflect really helps us appreciate life x