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You are here Home » Happiness » Being Happy

Being Happy

February 20, 2016 by Susan LaBorde Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links for products I mention. If you click a link and buy something I may receive some compensation. This does not change the price you would pay.

Philosophers debate the true meaning of being happy, scientists study it, and organizations collect data to create a happiness index. How about a laid back take on the topic, and some feel-good photos that will make you smile?

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Being Happy - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/
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Thousands of books have been written on everything from defining happiness to understanding it to pursuing and achieving it. For a more serious read you can check out “What is Happiness?” or learn about the Science of Happiness, but what about the lighter side? What about just being happy?

However you define happiness, and whatever deeply meaningful journey you may be on, the short term matters too. It matters a lot! Imagine how dreary life would be without all those “little” things that make us happy.

That’s what you’ll find below – no in depth discussion or how-to instructions, just an invitation to give yourself a break and be happy right now, if only for a few minutes.

Table of Contents

  • Happy Places – What’s Yours?
  • Images of Being Happy
  • What Do You Think?

Happy Places – What’s Yours?

All over the web you can find dozens of lists of happy places that are physical locations. They include towns and cities around the world, tropical islands, spectacular mountains, amazing rain forests, and an interesting variety of other places where people are happy to live or to visit, or sometimes just to dream about.

The happiest country on earth
Do you recognize this place?
It’s the happiest country on earth!

Do you dream of visiting the wilds of Africa for an up-close look at its stunningly beautiful wildlife? Or, does thinking of a trip like that conjure up mental images of you being eaten by one of those magnificent creatures? To each his own, right?!

Most often we think of a happy place as a mental, emotional, or spiritual experience. It’s somewhere you can go without physically traveling anywhere. The location is within us, a state of mind where there is shelter from whatever we don’t want in our lives so that the only thing left is all that we do want.

Our ideas about an internal happy place can differ drastically. Are you an introvert or extrovert? Do you crave solitude or connecting with people? Do you feel a stronger emotional connection with nature or in a certain cozy room at home that is special to you?

Maybe your happy place involves…

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  • a peaceful, deserted beach
  • a crowded city sidewalk brimming with energy
  • a yoga class that makes you feel relaxed and centered
  • a crossfit session that makes you feel empowered and enthusiastic
  • playing with your kids
  • enjoying a rare moment of quiet time while your kids play with friends
  • a brisk jog, or a leisurely stroll
  • digging in the dirt to work in your garden, or sitting quietly enjoying the beauty of your garden

That list could go on forever, with as many different ideas as there are individuals on earth. The only list that matters is your own.

Do you know what your internal happy place is? Have you been there lately?

Here’s your chance to take a little me time. Enjoy the photos below, enjoy whatever personal mental images they bring to mind for you, and choose to be happy right now. About something. About anything!

Images of Being Happy

Soldier’s Return

Lane County Area Soldiers Reunite With Families - photo by DVIDSHUB on flickr - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/ Photo by DVIDSHUB on flickr, CC License

Lane County Area Soldiers Reunite With Families
After a 400 day deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Oregon Army National Guard, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, returns home. This photo by Sgt. Eric Rutherford captures the happiness of one young family. If you’ve ever been deployed, or if you’ve ever served by being that family member waiting for your loved one to come home, you don’t need any explanation of what that homecoming feels like.

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Thrill of Victory

Grand Blue Mile by Phil Roeder, on Flickr - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/ Photo by Phil Roeder on flickr, CC License

Grand Blue Mile
In this photo, Heather Kampf has just won the Women’s 1 Mile Road Championship at the Grand Blue Mile in downtown Des Moines – and it isn’t just a race. This annual event was created for the purpose of encouraging healthy habits and empowering positive change. It offers both competitive and recreational divisions so that there is something suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Participants have ranged in age from 1 to 81. One of the most common definitions of happiness is “well-being”, and the Grand Blue Mile certainly steps up to the plate in offering this unique opportunity to come together and celebrate wellness.

Talents and Gifts

Guitar Lesson - Happiness is in giving and in receiving - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/

Being Happy is in giving. And in receiving.
Having a special talent is a joy in itself. For a musician there is the rewarding thrill of performing for others, as well as the endless hours of pleasure derived from simply playing in solitude. Then there is the happiness that comes from sharing the gift through teaching others, and in seeing the happiness of those receiving this precious gift.

True Love

Happiness is Sweethearts - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/ Photo by Patrick on flickr, CC License

Sweethearts
What a beautiful world it would be if we were all so blessed as to know a love that lasts a lifetime. This photo was taken during the filming of a television commercial, but the two love birds are a real married couple. Either they are magnificent actors, or the love they share is unaffected by age or time. (Let’s choose to believe that the latter is true!)

Most Amazing Hike Ever

Crow Peak summit. Chugach Mountains, Alaska - photo by Paxson Woelber on flickr - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/ Photo by Paxson Woelber on flickr, CC License

Crow Peak summit. Chugach Mountains, Alaska
Sometimes our most rewarding experiences occur when we’re communing with nature, from oceans to jungles to prairies to mountaintops. To fully appreciate all the emotion behind this camera shot, here is what Mr. Woelber wrote about it: “Even though it was still really early in the year, enough snow had melted off that we were able to scramble up to the top of Crow Peak. After taking a few photos and eating lunch, we slid down a big snowfield on the other side of the peak, walked around a glacier, and then slid another few hundred feet down to the Crow Pass trail in a valley far below. This was without a doubt one of the most amazing days of hiking I’ve ever had.”

Double Blessings

Being Happy - Born Together, Friends Forever - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/

* About this photo

Born Together, Friends Forever
Lots of siblings can have very close relationships, but twins have a special bond that can be amazingly strong. They share DNA, and they’ve been together from the very beginning, before they even came into this world. Growing up they always have each other to share every experience – big scary things like the first day of preschool. Imagine going through childhood with a pal that’s always got your back, one who understands you so well you can communicate with a glance. Sure, twins are double the trouble for parents, but they’re also double the happiness – for mom, dad, and each other too!

* About the photo: Life is good® is more than a company. It’s a community. Visit the Life is Good website to learn more about how they give back to the world through solutions, progress, and growth. To quote from their purpose statement: “Optimism is not irrational cheerfulness or “blind” positivity. It’s a pragmatic strategy for approaching life.”

Indulgence

Sometimes being happy is a guilty pleasure - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/

Yes, but decadence can be so delightful.
If you’re one of those amazingly disciplined people who never ever gives in to temptation, congratulations and you can skip this photo. For everyone else, take comfort in knowing you are not alone. If you do Google image search for the word indulgence, you’ll find that the vast majority of the results are pictures of food or of people devouring food. Apparently one of our favorite ways to indulge in a guilty pleasure is to eat something we probably shouldn’t. Granted, it isn’t the way to true lasting happiness, and we’ll likely pay for it later, but oh my, in the moment our taste buds are so gloriously happy that every once in a while, it’s worth it.

Delightfully Dirty

Delightfully Dirty Kid - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/

There are photos, and then there are photos.
Why do we pay such prices to professional photographers for shots of our children when they are well-dressed, immaculately groomed and perfectly posed? There is so much more to see when an image simply captures the moment … that look of pure happiness, that ringlet of hair damp with sweat, and that sweet face smudged with a little grime because this kid has been playing hard and having fun, without a care, and joyfully free to be shirtless on a warm summer afternoon.

Making Memories

A Guitar From Grandpa - Being Happy is making a memory - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/

She got a guitar. Grandpa made a memory.
No, she can’t play a song yet, but it doesn’t matter. She loves listening to grandpa play and sing old tunes from back in his day, and she’s even learned the words to most of the songs. He loves seeing how happy she is when they’re together singing and laughing. He couldn’t resist buying her a guitar of her very own, maybe in the hopes that she’ll someday learn to play. That doesn’t matter either. He’ll always have the memory of those precious times shared with his sweet granddaughter. And some day long after he is gone, she’ll look back on those same memories and feel the kind of deep down happiness that time cannot erase.

You Knew This Was Coming

Being Happy - the obligatory cute cat pic - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/

You don’t have to admit you secretly enjoy this.
“Cute” cat videos are so prolific that the whole genre (if you can call it that) has become a common target of jokes. Hence, it seemed our collection here wouldn’t be complete without a cute kitten pic. You’re probably rolling your eyes, but come on, look at that adorable little face. Really, somewhere deep inside, don’t you feel at least a tiny urge to smile?

What Do You Think?

Would you define being happy as pleasure, contentment, satisfaction, cheerfulness, merriment, joy, glee, delight, well-being, exuberance, exhilaration, elation, ecstasy, jubilation, rapture, bliss, euphoria, freedom, prosperity, gratitude, serenity, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe, love, accomplishment, achievement, something else?

Neale Donald Walsch Happiness is a decision, not an experience... Photo by BK on flickr - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/being-happy/ Photo by BK on flickr, CC License

We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below to tell us about your own happy place, or share one of the happiest moments or experiences in your life. Remember that sometimes we can even find pleasure in hearing about the happiness of someone else!




You may also like:

Happy - photo courtesy of Anne Grady Group - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/what-is-happiness/

What Is Happiness?

It's not only the happiest country on earth but also one of the most beautiful - https://www.makeavisionboard.com/happiest-country-on-earth/ Happiest Country on Earth

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About Susan LaBorde

Susan is a web developer, digital marketer, freelance writer, published author, a mom, a Nana, and an avid student of personal growth. She knows from experience what a valuable tool vision boards can be, and she has a passion for helping others discover the amazing power of visualization.

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