What Do You Really Need to be Happy?
Everyone has their own version of happy. The same goes for what each person would need to be happy. Have you stopped to consider what you really need to be happy?
Take a Moment to Stop and Think
It was the night he said “look up, not enough people look up at the stars anymore.”
It was the day we were by the lake. We were about to leave so he took the kids to the truck and said to me “stay here, just look around and take it all in.”
It was the day I stood looking out at the Chocolay River, during that moment of silence where everything seemed to be frozen still.
It was those moments when I stopped to realize the beauty all around us. It wasn’t until at the river though, that I looked out and thought about everything we have been trying to build for ourselves.
I really stopped to think about life and what I really wanted for us. What I wanted for the boys as they grow older. What I wanted for my husband and myself as we grew older together.
It’s moments like those that really make you stop and think. Think about the direction your life is heading, the road you started to travel down, and where you really want to end up.
Find Yourself
I encourage you to unplug for a tiny while. Go out in the middle of nowhere. Be able to hear yourself think and really find yourself again. Too many people are being lost in the fast-paced day-to-day race. They’re ending up unhappy, and not sure why they’re doing what they’re doing anymore.
See, when you stop to think about it, sometimes you realize what you thought you wanted was actually what everyone else in your life said you would need. They said, or implied, that if you didn’t have those things you wouldn’t be happy.
How Much Do You Need to Be Happy?
As for me, I realized how little I actually needed to be happy. How I could downsize a lot of things in my life and not miss what I had. For me, I just want a house with a good number of windows to let in as much natural light as possible. I want a decent sized back yard where my kids can run around and play without me having to worry they might run into the street after a ball. I don’t want, or need, more material items. I want to create more memories. I want to enjoy the outdoors more, without being about to see a house every way I look. We don’t need a bigger house or more things. We need more open space.
So, I’ll ask again. Have you stopped to consider what you really need to be happy?
This is great! It’s so hard to hear your own thoughts and recognize your priorities in the day-to-day busy-ness of life. For me, a big house isn’t needed, but location is important. Looking forward to reading more.
Thank you so much! I agree that location is definitely important. My husband also really wants 10 acres, but we said we could be happy with 5 depending on where the house is located. I created a picture in my head and the house doesn’t matter as much. I see the back yard, kids swing on the swing set or building a snow fort, and the rocking chairs on a deck when we’re older so we can enjoy the outdoors on nice nights.
This is so true! I have had many years of my life where it was go,go,go. Now I do take time and just look around, take it in and breathe 😊
I think it’s so important. Sometimes someone just needs to be reminded to do it every once in a while. 🙂 I think, from very early on, we’re just conditioned for the go, go, go anymore.
Great tips for finding our happy. I am currently trying to find my happy again and will take the time to unplug like you suggested. Thank you
You’re welcome! It makes me happy to hear my writing has inspired someone to try something I suggested. 🙂 I hope you find your happy again soon!
It’s amazing how much stock we, as a society, put into material things and how much weight they have on our happiness. If everyone would take more time to really look at what they have and what they want out of life, they would really be happier. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Your post helped remind me that we should take time to appreciate “the little things.”
You’re so welcome and I’m glad you enjoyed the post! I think taking time to appreciate the little things is so important for several different reasons. Happiness is really high up on that list though. 🙂
You’re so right… our world has convinced the majority of us that we need STUFF to be happy. I’m working on minimizing our possessions to be able to find the peace that I KNOW will make me happy. Thank you so much for this 🙂
You’re so welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I agree, and now we just have too much stuff! I’ve been working on minimizing possessions as well. Ever since I came to this mindset I’ve been trying to declutter everything in my house and decide what I really want to keep. This mindset wasn’t until November. I did a lot of soul searching, as you could call it, last year. I now have years of “stuff” to keep going through. I hope you find your peace soon. 🙂
This is a beautiful post. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the craziness of life, in the comparisons, in the expectations of others. Stopping, assessing, connecting with nature and channeling a sense of gratitude and peace can make all the difference!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I whole-heartedly agree! It took me quite some time to get to that point where I did stop, but once I did, everything started getting much better. 🙂
I love the idea of unplugging to go find yourself and discover what you need to be happy. My favorite way of doing that is to write morning pages every day. It’s very freeing! 😊
That is a great way to start the day! So many people start the day with technology or racing to get ready and go slmewhere. (Guilty!) Your morning sounds much more appealing!
Love this! We recently downsized from an upscale house almost 4000 sq ft to a 1440 sq home with large yard to play and more peaceful. The shift in simplifying our lives, getting rid of almost everything has given me so much peace in our home. Keep finding your happy girl! Still not in material things that’s for sure!
That’s amazing! Such a drastic change in square footage! I’m so glad you found that peace. I’ll keep working on finding mine. 🙂 I feel I’m on the right path now though. Baby steps. 🙂
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