What do you consider a happy life? I remember being asked the same question in a psychology class in college and almost all the students had a similar answer on their lips, we all want to be wealthy, we equated wealth to a life of happiness, and no doubt having wealth can help us afford certain resources that can cause us momentarily fun and luxury, the truth remains that a wealthy life doesn't always equate a happy life, if not why would we still see wealthy couples divorce or a wealthy man that has all the money on the world but lacks good health which causes him sadness, that's just the irony of life.

Years have gone by since that question was asked, and if asked the same question now, I feel my little experience in life in the last three decades has taught me better. In our pursuit of wealth and other life goals, we often overlook or take for granted the simple things of life that give us joy, happiness is not only gotten when you achieve that Life's goal, but on the journey towards achieving or even if you don't end up achieving it, does that mean you give up on happiness and live a miserable life? No. Life is unpredictable, we can only do our best, and be intentional about living a happy life irrespective of what life throws at us, the best way to live this life is to start appreciating things we often take for granted like a delicious meal or a warm embrace from a loved one.

Good Food

I don't know the science behind this, but it feels magical also, have you ever felt down and decided to give yourself a treat of your favorite meal, or if you are like me and don't have one favorite meal, a good food not only satisfy our hunger it gives us some form of comfort or pleasure, changing our sour mood, sometimes, It isn't just the food itself, but the entire experience, there are some food I eat that brings comforting memory of my childhood, or eating a traditional meal in a foreign land, it will definitely bring you happiness, no wonder people living abroad appreciate when our local cuisine is sent to them, so next you feel down, try treating yourself to a good meal, it doesn't even need to be an expensive meal, as long as it nourishes the body, that's all that matters.

Family and Friends, The Heart of Happiness

If good food nourishes our bodies, then people, friends, and families are that same good food but for the soul. Friendship is a unique relationship that we all need as it can help us to find comfort in good and bad times, real friends accept us for who we are same as our families. Imagine that special feeling you get when you return from a long travel, and embrace someone or get hugged. It is the understanding that irrespective of what events unfold in life we will have people to count on.

Although present day communication is different with the help of technology, the value of relations remains the same. Video calls with distant relatives, and group messages that ensure that friend groups remain connected, especially with the time differences, are some of the ways through which relationships are sustained. Despite the loneliness that seems to encompass us quite often, human touch is a source of happiness that is incomparable

A Clean Environment

I don't know when this exactly started but know I've been doing it as long as I can remember, when I feel down, I often have the urge to clean, I don't even mind helping out my neighbors clean around their surroundings that's if I've exhausted where to clean in my side, the outcome is that there is a feeling of satisfaction and happiness that overwhelms me when I'm in a clean environment, my mum often tease me about it, maybe cleaning and throwing out dirts make me feel like I'm throwing out the negative feeling and opening myself up for happiness, I don't know how common this feeling is, if you often find yourself doing Same let me know, as long as it helps me, I don't see my self stopping soon, a simple act like folding and arranging my clothes neatly in the wardrobe helps clear my mind and makes me feel better.

Helping People

Most people think when you help others, you are doing them a huge favour, do you know that the person who even receives a huge favour is yourself, I've had this experience too many times and can't get enough of it, when I help others, no matter how small the act of kindness, it might be helping an elderly cross the road, or gifting new outfits I made to a total stranger, putting a smile on someone's face, seeing them happy makes me happy, this is one hidden source of happiness the world needs to know and do better at, it will not only make us feel happy but make the world a better place.

Last but not least,

• The Sweet Taste of Achievement/Success**

Success has a different meaning, interpretation, and significance to most people; however, the concept of happiness is a result of success. It is the feeling of winning a bet, the feeling of triumph in a competition, the feeling of having worked hard for something and achieving it.

The greatest happiness in success can be said to be found not at the end, but along the way. It is the process of achieving the goals, it is about what we learn from the failures, and it is about the personal development of each person when he or she struggles towards the goal. And when we do succeed, being able to share this success with those who helped us gets to the sweet part.

No matter what life has in store, by concentrating on these types of positive experiences I have shared here, the good food, the affection of family and friends, the synchrony with our surroundings, success, and a host of others, we can fashion a well of the positive feelings from which draws when the negative feelings arise. Here’s to a life of happiness for us all.

This post is inspired by the #julyinleo monthly topics, do check it out and feel inspired.

_{Image 1 is edited with canva
Images 2,3,4 are mine.}

Thank you for reading.❤❤