\u201cI just want to be happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A supportive relationship, good friends, work that doesn\u2019t suck the life out of you, a decent income. Is that so much to ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And yet, no matter how hard we try, happiness is woven between loneliness, frustration, worry and, let\u2019s not forget, exhaustion. We were raised to believe that we should strive for \u201chappiness.\u201d But what if we\u2019ve been chasing the wrong dream?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somewhere along the way we came up with the idea that if we get all the pieces of our lives together just so, we\u2019ll be happy. And further, that once things come together they\u2019ll stay together and we\u2019ll be happy all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then to complicate matters even more, we now live in a chaotic world that\u2019s streamed live to our phones on a moment to moment basis. Here we are, trying to arrange our happy lives amidst a backdrop of global upheaval. It\u2019s like trying to have a picnic in the middle of a hurricane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe we need to re-think happiness.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinking we should be happy but not being happy just adds to the stress. So, let\u2019s rethink this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We all want to be happy but, realistically, not everything will make us happy. Some things will make us sad. Some will make us think. Some will make us want to change them. Instead of happiness, what if we aim for peace \u2013 inner peace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With inner peace, I can be disappointed by a relationship and still be at peace in myself. I can be troubled by world affairs and still understand that this is the nature of the world right now. I can want to change something and still accept that it\u2019s not changed yet. In this way, we can have some control in an out of control world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just maybe, inner peace is the new happiness. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How do we cultivate inner peace? Here are a few thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1) Keep it simple<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember you\u2019re having a picnic in a hurricane. Maybe less side dishes and balloons. In other words, uncomplicate your life. Do less, buy less, pare down. Eliminate the non-essentials. Less details, less stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2) Come inside<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a storm, get to the storm cellar. Give yourself permission to retreat once in a while. Stay home. Take a breath. Do nothing. Give yourself a media break. Let your mind and heart re-set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3) Practice acceptance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Acceptance is not giving in. It\u2019s seeing clearly what\u2019s right in front of you. No denial. No illusions. You don\u2019t have to like it. You just have to accept that this is what\u2019s happening for now. This too shall pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4) Consider timing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The crazier life gets, the harder we try to keep everything together. But what if there is a right time for things to end, to fall apart, to be dismantled? Instead of desperately trying to keep everything together, listen to your gut. Maybe something falling apart is exactly right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5) You are a superhero<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some days, just getting out of bed can take courage. So many demands, non-stop decisions, and everything happening at mind-shattering speed. At the end of the day, try making a list all the \u201cvillains\u201d you vanquished that day. Bills paid, meals made, assignments done. Then take off your cape and let yourself fall into a restful sleep. You earned it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one wants to give up on happiness. Nor should we. Pursuing inner peace is just another way of arriving at \u201chappy.\u201d Seeking inner peace, we find contentment. In contentment we find happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The path to inner peace begins by surrendering to what is. What have you been resisting, and how would your life be different if you accepted it \u2013 for now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n About the Author:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Anna Francesca Celestino<\/em><\/strong> is an intuitive and certified Life Coach with over 20 years of experience in personal growth and transformational change. Blending practical spirituality with her intuitive gifts, Anna helps individuals navigate daily life and unlock their full potential. As an expert in the Akashic Records, she has guided hundreds to create fulfilling, purpose-driven lives. With her unique mix of insight and wisdom, Anna empowers clients to break free from the past and thrive in the present.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n