Our zest for living is often dulled by the demands of just getting through the day: Bills to pay, errands to run, groceries to replenish, and doctor’s appointments to keep. When will the strivings cease? When will the next joy come?
In these difficult moments, it is easy to feel lost or stuck. You might know the feeling. Yet as we rattle through the humdrum anxieties, we unwittingly hit upon little lightbulb moments that remind us that life is not absolutely woeful, and that glimpses of joy can filter through the cracks.
Inspiring insights or revelations – eureka moments, as I like to call them – are like a gift to tell us that happiness is within our reach, and we need not fret about the normal discontent of living.
Here are a few revelations that helped me recognise happiness for what it is.
Whoever we are, or at whatever station we are in our lives, we all need the human touch. Without supportive relationships, our lives are lonely and empty, deprived and adrift because human connection offers the best buffer against depression.
It is in our nature to reach out and connect, to share and to empathise.
Conversation remains one of the effective ways of bringing people together. Even a little chinwag with a close friend over the phone can uplift and recharge the spirit. Emotional maturity helps us to say the right thing and to listen from the heart in order to deepen empathy.
Every connection, every smile you receive, contains a modicum of affection, in the form of interest, appreciation, warmth or compassion. All these encounters you have with others every day will sustain you in a flow of kindness and love.
Happy people are joy-triggers, and very pleasant to have around. There are people who are seemingly happy as their default state even when their lives are not as cushy as others’. Perhaps they make a conscious effort not to dwell on their problems. Perhaps they see more reasons to be grateful, or they habitually deploy humour as a protective shield against being undone by anxiety.
A grateful heart can clear away the stifling pettiness, and the enervating trifles of life. You can change your mood by changing the lens through which you view your day. Aye, joy is something to be practised every day.
There’s room for improvement in any area and at any stage of life. We can renew ourselves, to allow our potential to soar or bring forth any latent talent to the fore. Sometimes being bold in taking up opportunities presented to us opens up blessings to land on our lap. Successful people are indeed also brave as they know that happiness moves in interestingly unpredictable ways.
In her speech addressing the graduating class of Harvard Law School 2023, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh said: “Limitations set by yourself give you boundaries to respect, but boundaries set by others give you boundaries to burst through.”
I believe her engaging speech reverberated among the law graduates and many others who heard her, to overcome hurdles and set stellar goals for themselves.
Sometimes what we need in a moment of ambivalence when self-doubts assail us, is for someone to give us that little push or offer words of encouragement to strengthen our resolve and motivate us in a profound way.
It does us good to read something positive and meaningful every day to unlock our potential and give clarity to what we want to do with our lives. When we look at people who are high achievers or have made it despite the odds, it becomes apparent that they know how to tap into their gifts, their inner fortitude, and bring it to the surface to achieve what they desire.
They are able to communicate, coordinate and collaborate with others to produce a powerful synergy that can maximise benefits for all-round happiness. In the process, they are able to inspire others to enhance their creativity, improve their productivity and well-being.
Do pay attention to the still, small voice inside you. When we listen to the promptings of our heart, we will receive direction and inspiration to shape possibilities into realities. Speaking from experience, our intuition is pretty reliable, and you can trust it to make decisions that your mind cannot explain.
Our gut instinct is like a light inside of us that can burn away self-doubt and illuminate our path. Some call it wisdom, others call it a sense of self-awareness, as what goes on in the heart will translate into our actions.
When we listen to our heart and make the right decision, we can feel an all-encompassing peace, unbridled joy and exhorting confidence. That’s the sign that says you are on the right track and have done the right thing.
We need to stop moving through our day on autopilot, in an insensitive or and callous manner. To savour the essence of life, we need to expand ourselves, think good thoughts, push out and explore, finding fresh avenues to express and enjoy life.
In her book, Fears To Fierce, author and advocate Brita Fernandez Schmidt describes “Fierce” as the light within us. She says: “When I’m inspired, I feel I can move mountains, overcome fears and follow my dreams. I feel a surge of energy that speaks to the very essence of who I am.”
The power of inspiration is immeasurable. The habit of noticing small pleasures and beauty can inspire awe and create the feeling of abundance which can spur happiness. May we learn to nurture our own ‘fierce’ and spark joy in ourselves and others.
Yes, life consists of little revelatory moments that serve to propel us to regain the joy of living. Reignite the optimism, and focus on the grand possibilities our day can turn into.
Mary Eu is a retiree who has a passion for writing. When she is not prowling the shopping mall looking for a dress to scream into, she can be seen reading, writing or home decorating.
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