"Happyfulness" is a term I coined that combines the states of happiness and mindfulness. Mindfulness is the state of living in the now. It is the appreciation of life today, in the present moment. The focus is on enjoying the little things in life, recognizing that nothing is insignificant, that everything has meaning and purpose. When you stop and smell the roses, you are experiencing mindfulness. When you look up into the night sky and take in the panoramic universe before you, this is a moment of mindfulness.
My perception of happyfulness is a state of elation in the moment where one experiences joy in simply "being". The awe in seeing the first butterfly in spring. The elation in being there to witness a child take his first steps. The wonder in taking in a breathtaking view. Brief moments in time that create bursts of great bliss. Not just experiencing the moment, but the happiness and feeling of fulfillment the moment brings you.
Happyfulness can be experienced by making a commitment to yourself to pay attention to the things you ignore. Bring them into focus. Look past the obvious. What lies behind you? What is surrounding you? Walk part way to work one day and experience the "newness" of morning. Sit in the park for a few minutes. Breathe in the fresh air. Listen to the birds singing. It's a completely different world in the morning. How does it make you feel?
Happyfulness has many benefits to your stress level and well-being. It takes you away from the things that occupy a good portion of your mind and prevent you from getting the most out of life. We all recognize life is short, yet most of our time is spent working and focusing on serious endeavours. Then one day we wake up to the realities of old age. And the worst thing about it is we can't take it back. All the years we've spent toiling we wished we were enjoying. Allowing ourselves to feel joy during the mundane times in life is empowering because it creates a sense of control over our lives. When we feel in control, we begin to relax.
We've all heard the quote, "Life's short. Bite hard." I say, Life's short. Relax hard. Breathe hard. Laugh hard. Feel joy hard. Repeat.
