s Iโm getting older Iโm starting to really appreciate the things in life that make me truly happyย and Iโm delighted to discover that they are very simple and readily available to almost anyone who looks for them. Evenings on the couch withย hot chocolate and a good TV series. Bottles of wine shared with friends over incredibly competitive card games. Walking. Talking. The exact definition of happiness is different for everyone but here are a few things that I think might help you to lead a blissful life… because everyone should.
Be aware of time
Procrastination is the devil. We spend so much time avoiding tasks we dislike that we end up spending more timeย wasting time than doing anything else. Just have a think about what youโre spending your time doing. Every half an hour you spend scrolling through Facebook,ย watching unsatisfying TV orย internet stalking people you donโt like is half an hour youโll never get back. Spend every second of your time wisely. Your time should spent doing only completely necessary things or completely lovely things. You donโt have time to do anything else.
Think how much worse things could be
Itโs always a bit of a downerย but sometimes I think about how much worse off I could be and it always makes me feel like a great big sook and then I naturally start to feel better. Itโs okay to have feelings and itโs okay to be sad sometimes but if you need to be pulled out of your rut just focus on all the things that you have. Even basics like clean water and a roof over your head.ย If your country isnโt a war zone and you havenโt experienced a catastrophic natural disaster recently, youโre doing okay. Be grateful for that.
Share
Everything. Your home, your food, your art, your experiences, your joys, your opinions and your jokes. My partner has synesthesiaย (he can โseeโ music) and whenever thereโs a cool tune playing he tells me whatย patterns he can see. I have a friend who is the pun queen and every time she puns I totally crack up because sheโs a legend at it. Donโt be all stingy with your awesome stuff. Share your beauty and let others share theirs.ย Itย makes life pretty darn wonderful.
Laugh often and loudly
I once read that children laugh 300 times a day and adults only laugh 20 times a dayย and it made me feel really sad. I love to make people laughย so I do it whenever I can. Sometimes Iโll do a stupid dance for my partner while heโs working or Iโll send a funny text to my bestie. I also love making faces at babies, trying to make them giggle. Itโs easy to be grumpy and tired but if you just try to lighten up and make another person laugh, itโs the most brilliant bliss boost. Do it as often as you can. No one will mind. I promise.
Use your eyes
I love reading and I love writing so if Iโm walking around outside I tend to not notice things the way a designer or an artist might. Iโm usually listening to conversationsย (massive eavesdropper here)ย orย writing things in my head. I have lotsย of artist friends that have taught me to use my eyes more and you know what? The world is fucking gorgeous. Go for a walk, donโt take any devices with you and just look at stuff. Itโsย extraordinary.
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Whereโs your bliss right now? Do you need some help to find it?
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P.S Also you should totally follow Smaggle onย Facebookย or sign up for theย Smaggle weekly newsletterย because thereโs more stuff to help you be the star of your own life in those places.
28 Comments
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You are such a babe.
Happy Monday x-
Author
Happy Monday to you too!
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Spot on. As always. Love this!
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Author
I thought this one might be up your ally!
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Awesome tips as always. Youre so right that the older you get the more you realise the little things that make you truly happy.
That synesthesia thing is incredible! I want that super power!
Xx-
Author
It’s really cool! He didn’t know it was thing until he was about 16 and saw a doco about it. It makes sense because his taste in music is very unusual! ๐
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Needed this today Smaggle, having a massive downer. Will try to put things in perspective and focus on the positive today instead!
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Author
I actually needed this today too! I wrote it last week but I def needed today. Perfect timing for everyone!
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Love, love, love this post.
I am a hopeless sleeper…no bigger bliss killer! I now have a kindle Paperwhite that lights up at night and read my way back to sleep instead of lying there stressing about wakefulness.
That said I’m an Olympics level Procrastinator http://annabuckley.com/2014/12/02/procrastination-you-evil-temptress/
and I’m not sure how to beat this one because I get so much done!P.S. I also have synesthesia…words and colours.
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Author
Oh cool! I’ve got mate who is words and smells. It’s pretty cool!
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Preach. Bring on the bliss!
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Author
I’m JUST about to turn off for the night go for a walk! That’s my bliss!
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Love me a good bliss hit! Good nights spent on the couch with husband and a glass of wine are my favourite type right now, we chat about our day and laugh and relaaaax after work ๐ I do feel pretty blissful when I’m reading the paper at a cafรฉ, too
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Author
Oh wine on a couch – cannot get any better than that!
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Lovely! I like the way you include sharing your bliss too – bliss shared can really double it! (having said that, sometimes my most blissful times are times alone – just having mental space to think and digest and absorb what is around me)
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Author
Oh I’m the same! An evening in the bath with a crappy show on my iPad – it’s hard to beat that!
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a lovely post thankyou smags!
yes it’s those small things and being aware enough to notice
all good! love m:)X-
Author
You are welcome! xxx
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This post is beyond brilliant. Exactly what I needed to read. x
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Author
Thank you darling heart! Glad I could help. x
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I needed something to suck me back out of the internet abyss and spit me back into the present. This did it. Logging off now. x
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Author
Oh excellent! I really struggle that sometimes I’m like ‘Don’t be all the time on the internet!!! But… obviously keep reading my blog.’ ๐ On that note, I’m logging off for the night too!
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I’ve been reading your blog for years but have never commented…until now! I really needed to read this today. I’ve let lots of little problems get me down over the last week.Thank you for the reminder to put things in perspective and appreciate that I’m blessed to be able to do things that bring me joy x
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Author
Oh that’s so lovely of you! Thank you so much! xxx
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Brilliant post Carly and just what I needed. I am hoping to stop procrastinating and do more. V x
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Author
Excellent! x
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After a tough 12 months…these are exactly the things I needed to read.
Would it be weird if I printed all your posts, bound them together in a book and used it as a bible of sorts? ๐
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Author
Um… no! That would totally make my day! Maybe I should write a book??? ๐
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