How to Make Yourself Happier in 2023

It seems like everybody has advice on how to be happy.

The last thing we want to do is add to the noise. However we feel joy, happiness and being merry and bright gains focus at this time of year and it is a great opportunity to reflect on the level of happiness we have in our lives. 

We know money can't buy happiness, and according to most well known individuals neither can fame. It seems those who practice gratitude have a good handle on it unlike those who hold grudges and neglect to foster forgiveness in their lives. 

But if we asked the question...

What is one thing we could do to make life happier in 2023?

What would your answer be? You might be surprised to hear ours. 

Surrender is a word we don’t hear much and when we do it seems to be interpreted as a negative. To surrender is to be defeated, conquered, over powered, to yield or give up. We don’t think we have ever heard it paired with happiness.

However, when we say surrender we mean, release, go with the flow, relinquish, be free from all that restricts. This includes unmet expectations, projections, disappointments, and criticisms.

You see, when we hold things lightly and learn to flow with our reality, we make room for new possibilities. Make your hand into a fist, now try to pick up something. Impossible right? Now open your hand and do the same, try to pick up something. When we are open to life. When we let go of all the things that should, could and would happen we make room for what is, can and will be. 

But what if you don’t like what is? What if flowing with reality looks like sickness, lack, loss and pain? What if you feel like you can’t survive without becoming rigid, rocklike?

Firstly, don’t fret sister, you are not the only one feeling this way. Coming to a state of surrender is a process. We all have to punch a few pillows and kick a few walls before we are able to come to a place of release. It's called expressing emotion and it's totally ok.  

Once that is out of the way, we must come to the place where we acknowledge our helplessness. We must admit that we are not in control of everything and tune into Love.

Simply, this means embracing a perspective that sees what is good, true and beautiful in your situation.

However, be mindful not to fake it. We must not pretend everything is fine or try to talk ourselves into being positive. Instead simply look for the present good, no matter how small. 

You may have to go through this process more than once. Remember this is how it goes:

• Feel and express emotion.
• Acknowledge your lack of control.
• Tune into love.
• Look for what is presently good, true and beautiful and be grateful.
• Release and watch for possibilities. 

We believe the happiest people are those who know how to flow with life. They process unforeseeable circumstances well and do not resist what life brings to them because they know resistance prolongs pain.

To surrender is to acknowledge the circumstances and to grow through them.

May 2023 be a year of just that, surrender, growth and going with the flow.