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Jan. 24, 2023

Discovering Joy from Around the World: Personal Stories and Tips for Happiness

Are you struggling to find happiness in your life? You're not alone; many people experience periods of feeling down or unsatisfied with their lives. However, the good news is that there are things you can do to improve your mood and find more joy in your life. In this article, we have compiled advice from five different guests on the "What Makes You Happy" podcast, who share what brings them happiness and offer tips for finding happiness in your own life. Everyone has their own path to happiness.

Whether you prefer exercising, feeling grateful, focusing on the present, pursuing your passions or helping others - you can find a way to make yourself content. Take some advice from inspiring people and read their stories to find out how they manage to stay happy in life.

Brooke Wright: Running Mom Advocate

Brooke Wright, the founder of Respirit Retreats and a running mom advocate, shares that running makes her happiest. She explains that running has been a tool for her to manage anxiety and depression. She enjoys bringing women together and getting them into running so that they can benefit from it and find joy through running.

In terms of advice for those who may be struggling to find happiness in their life, Brooke suggests that it does get better and to hold on. Additionally, she recommends getting outside and being more active, such as going for a walk or run. Brooke emphasizes the importance of beginning with small steps, such as spending 5-10 minutes outside in the morning sun. She also believes that exercising, especially running, can aid in effectively handling anxiety & depression.

Darcy Phillips: Student

Darcy Phillips, a student, shares that what makes him happy is making other people happy. He explains that this comes in many different forms, such as making people laugh, giving them compliments, and surprising his girlfriend with romantic gestures. He also mentioned that he used to work in a cafe and that giving someone a free cookie when they were having a bad day, or just a subtle compliment, was the best feeling.

Darcy recommends practicing gratitude as a way of finding true happiness. This involves taking the time to recognize and appreciate the little things in life like a sunny day or having your kitchen tidy. Making small changes in your daily life can have a notable effect on how you perceive yourself & your surroundings. Focusing on these minor details can hugely impact your mood. Additionally, it's important to concentrate on the smaller things in life and not neglect the bigger ones at the same time.

Peter Quarry: Renowned Melbourne-based psychologist

Peter Quarry, a renowned Melbourne-based psychologist and author of 'If I Were You', has identified five things that make him feel content and joyous; without any particular ranking or order.

He mentions that remembering happy moments from the past is a great source of happiness for him. As an example, he mentions finding old photos and reminiscing about past adventures and loved ones.

When asked what he would like the world to hear, Peter’s advice for happiness would be to take the time to reflect on past happy memories, to anticipate and plan for future happy experiences, to practice being present and appreciating the small things in life, to find something that you are good at and enjoy doing, and to make an effort to acknowledge and make an impact on others.

 

Luke Schembri: Life Coach

Luke Schembri; Life Coach, shares that many things can make him happy, such as validation, seeing people do well, helping others, and people liking his content. But he explains that what truly makes him satisfied is his spiritual practice. He suggests that happiness fluctuates but satisfaction comes from spiritual practice.

When asked for advice for someone listening to the podcast who is hoping to find something new to discover more light or happiness in their lives, Luke advises not to be afraid to use human intelligence and to ask deep questions about the self, such as "Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I suffering?" He suggests exploring spirituality and not listening to mainstream science, which he believes can stop people from pursuing the real goal of life. He also suggests starting small, with a daily commitment of just 5 or 10 minutes to take control of the mind and allow things to grow from that.

April Bielefeldt: Photographer

Photographer April Bielefeldt finds happiness in sharing her favorite places with others, whether it be a beautiful view, a sunrise, the Northern Lights, or a beloved restaurant. She discovered this joy when she began taking her camera out and seeing others appreciate the moments she captured for them.

April's advice for those seeking happiness is to do something kind for someone else, no matter how small. This can be as simple as making a phone call, lending an ear, or even just smiling and saying hello to someone on a walk. April believes that small acts of kindness and generosity can make a difference in someone else's life and bring happiness to your own.

Conclusion

The article offers advice from five guests on the "What Makes You Happy" podcast, who share their personal stories and tips for finding happiness in your own life. From exercise and gratitude to being in the moment, discovering your passions, and helping others, the article provides a variety of perspectives on how to find happiness. The call to action for readers is to take inspiration from these individuals and consider trying out different strategies for improving their mood and finding more joy in their lives. It highlights that happiness is a personal journey and it's important to discover what works for you, but it gives a variety of options for readers to start experimenting with.


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