“Happiness” is an emotional state, consisting of feelings of contentment, fulfilment, joy and satisfaction.

Most of us talk about “happiness”,

• by relating it to how we feel in the present moment, or
• by referring to a more general sense of how we feel about life overall.

While “happiness” can be described in different ways, it is often described as “positive emotions” and “life satisfaction”.

As the term “happiness” is such a broadly defined term, psychologists and social scientists typically use the term ‘subjective well-being’ when they talk about this emotional state.

“Subjective well-being” emphasizes the individual’s overall personal feelings about their life in the present moment. 

It has been observed that “happy people” live with a “purpose”.

“Happy people” find their joy in lasting relationships, working toward their goals, and living according to their values.

A “happy person” is doesn’t get enamoured with material goods or luxury vacations.

A “happy person” finds “happiness” in the simple pleasures of life. It could be as simple as – sitting under a tree, petting a dog or enjoying a nice hot cup of tea.

Here are my 10 Simple Steps towards “Happiness”.

1.    Yoga and Meditation

Yoga poses and series increases the body’s range of movement.

The Yoga stretching poses are gentle but very effective. Each pose is for a specific group of muscles.

The stretching poses activate the nervous system and release the tension in the muscles. This makes the body flexible.

The side poses strengthen and balance both sides of the body.

In Yoga as equal importance is given to both sides of the body, it improves the functioning of the internal organs, stabilizes the body and strengthens the muscles which help in balancing the body.

Start your day with a peaceful and relaxing meditation session.

Just concentrating on your breath for a few minutes can make you feel “calmer” and “peaceful”.

This whole session will make you feel relaxed and energized.

2.    Purify your Surroundings

Camphor

Camphor tree is an evergreen tree.

The easiest way to find a camphor tree is by “smell”.

Camphor tree has a strong menthol odour. This smell is released when leaves and twigs are crushed.

It is a fast-growing tree but tends to develop poor structure. This makes it prone to decay and failure of large branches.

The entire tree gets destroyed even in minor storms.

In Indian culture, camphor symbolizes a strong connection with the sacred and divine.

Camphor when burnt or diffused turns into fumes and fragrances.

These fumes and fragrances of camphor have the power to redefine your surroundings.

Camphor’s fragrance has healing energies that can remove the negative energies present in the environment and can magnify the positive energies.

The fragrance is a naturally powerful blend of piquant smell and menthol smell. It has a nose prickling fragrance that can arouse the healing agents by displaying an ethereal and divine feeling of tranquillity.

“Burning Camphor” during your morning rituals is the best. The fragrances released by camphor have medicinal properties.

These fumes and fragrances are anti-fungal and antibacterial. When we burn camphor, these fumes and fragrances spread out in the air and caste off any bacteria or negative energies present within you or in the environment.

Burning camphor makes it unfitting for the lower vibrational entities to survive and hence drives them away.

Burning Camphor every day is said to bring prosperity and an abundance of wealth. As the release of the negative blocks has taken place due to camphor, it is replaced by positive energy which is in the form of financial abundance.

Because of these divine properties of camphor, camphor is also used to cleanse your aura.

To cleanse your aura simply move a piece of camphor around your body from top to bottom and then burn that piece.

Do try it, it works!!!

Lavender

The lavender smell is delicate, sweet, floral, herbal and evergreen woodsy. It has a soft, powdery, or smoky element as well.

The lavender smell can also be described as a blend of medicinal camphor smell and the balsamic resin scent of the rosemary.

Lavender essential oils are made from crushed lavender flowers. These essential oils are used in products like perfumes and candles.

High-temperature steam distillation units are used to extract significant percentages of oil from the beautiful purple lavender flowers.

Lavender has a calming fragrance for relaxation that puts us in a better mood and helps create a sense of tranquillity and peacefulness in the environment. Lavender essential oils are in great demand nowadays, as they cure anxiety, stress, sleep disorders and depression.

Lavender fragrance can help the stresses of the day melt away and can also help us fall asleep faster and sleep deeper throughout the night. Hence, it is advisable to sprinkle a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow.

The best part about Lavender’s fragrance is that it crosses genders and features in both women’s and men’s products.

Lavender is popular as a “fragrance” in soaps and other bath products, perfumes and colognes, and even candles!

3.    Cold Shower in the Morning

In the olden times, people used to take a bath by dipping their bodies in the lakes /rivers.

The first thing to do when you start taking a bath in the morning is to pour some cold water on the centremost part of your head.

By wetting your head first, you are calming the brain, which in turn, regulates the whole body temperature.

Our internal body temperature is regulated by a part of the brain, known as the “Hypothalamus”.

The hypothalamus looks into the current temperature of the body and compares it with the normal temperature, which is 37°C.

Researchers have proved that cold water helps lower your body temperature faster.

If our body temperature is too low, the hypothalamus makes sure that the body generates and maintains heat.

In the morning, as we want to feel energized and active, the cold water makes our body activate heat and energy in the body. Hence, charges our body to face the day with energy.

So, when you start taking a bath, start by pouring/wetting the centremost of your head with cold water, which will activate the “Hypothalamus” and activate the mind and the body.

Water for bathing should be 5 -8 degrees Celsius lower than the room temperature.

If your body tends to catch a cold easily, then you can add a spoonful of Eucalyptus oil in cold water, you can use this water to take bath. This will help cure nasal problems.

In the morning, start your bath from head to toe, because the water is cold.

A cold water bath in the morning will keep you energized and healthy throughout the day!!!

4.    A Healthy Breakfast

“Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” -Adelle Davis.

Breakfast is the first mealtime of the day and is considered the “supreme” food of the day.

A healthy breakfast comprises nutritious foods that provide energy and make a person feel full and energetic.

A healthy breakfast satisfies you and helps you kick start your productive day.

Breakfast is good for your body and also having breakfast with your family works as a great bonding time.

Here is a list of 7 nice and healthy “Breakfast” ideas that can set you up for a great day ahead.

5.    Be hydrated throughout the day!

Do you think you drink enough glasses of water every day?

Unfortunately, many of us do not drink enough fluids.

We all know that – drinking plenty of fluids is very essential for the body.

Water and other healthy drinks help us stay hydrated every day.

These healthy drinks are hydrating and are loaded with several important nutrients, including minerals that you may not get enough of from your meals.

Adding these 5 Healthy Drinks to your everyday routine will help you stay fit and happy.

6.    Early Dinner

Try having your dinner by 8 PM.

Sleeping early is considered beneficial for your body because it allows you to get your required hours of sleep.

By getting your required hours of sleep, you will wake up more refreshed and energetic the next morning.

Most nutritionists swear by the notion that dining early is beneficial for health because it prepares the brain to wrap up the day’s gustatory activities early.

Having a meal just before bedtime can hamper your sleep because your digestive system will be functioning, which can hamper your sleep.

Our body programs its major body functions according to its internal body rhythm, called the “Circadian Rhythm”.

This “Circadian Rhythm” adjusts your body to all the environmental changes like eating, digestion, and sleep.

So, the timing of your meals will affect your body functions, like metabolic regulation, heart health and the sleep cycle.

Try to have your dinner by 8 PM, so that, you can sleep by 10 PM.

7.    Evening Walks

After a nice dinner, you can plan for an evening walk around 9 PM.

Walking is considered to be one of the easiest and healthiest exercises.

Evening walks will give you a nice workout.

A 30 – minute evening walk, will help you digest your dinner well. It will not only boost your energy levels but will also clear your mind and help you relax.

An evening walk will help you relax your body and mind.

Evening walks can help you sleep better as you will feel relaxed and free of any stress or tension.

It also helps you stay ” connected” with NATURE.

“Nature” is the “Best Teacher”.

8.    Hot Showers in the Evening

A lukewarm shower, taken an hour before bed, is best to help you sleep.

The cold and hot showers have their benefits, but they are not ideal to enhance the sleep mode.

A cold shower activates your mind and body, which is the opposite of what you want before bed. Hence, cold showers are best suited for mornings.

A too-hot shower too like the cold shower energizes your body and can keep you awake all night.

A lukewarm shower is like steam which helps you breathe easier at night. As it is easier for you to breathe, the quality of your sleep becomes healthier.

To boost the stimulating or relaxing effects of your lukewarm shower, you can add in some essential oils.

For your night’s sleep, opt for sleep-promoting oils like Sandalwood oil, Lavender oil, Chamomile oil or peppermint oil.

You can add a few drops of any of these essential oils to your shower gels.

The fragrance of your essential oil and a lukewarm shower will help you relax and get a good night’s sleep.

9.    Listen to soothing music.

“Music” has the power to decrease pain and anxiety, improve mood and facilitate opportunities for emotional expression.

Music affects our physical and mental health in numerous ways.

“Music therapy” is used in nursing homes because it boosts conventional treatment for a variety of illnesses and disease processes.

Music can cure anxiety, depression, stress, pain and enhance all body functions.

Slow music is more relaxing that can help you sleep better.

Soft soothing music can slow the pulse and can decrease the levels of stress hormones in the body.

Relaxing music prompts, the mind and the body to get into a relaxing and simulates a sleepy state.

Slower breathing, slower heart rate, and lower blood pressure are all physiological changes that enhance the process of falling asleep and staying asleep possible.

Music also has a soothing effect that helps the mind to clear out the thoughts and lowers the stress and anxiety levels.

Listening to soothing music before going to bed, helps your body to tune into sleep mode, both psychologically and physically.

Researchers have suggested that choosing soothing songs with slow rhythms, between 60 to 80 beats per minute, are best for inducing sleep mode.

There are many soothing music apps available on your mobile. There are many YouTube videos –  that have soothing relaxing music.

10.  Read at least one page before sleeping.

Reading in bed, before going to sleep, is an age-old tradition.

Some people cannot sleep without reading. But, for others, the bedtime stories they read last were during their childhood days.

Reading is also a better option than watching TV or scrolling through your mobile phones.

These electronic gadgets emit blue lights which tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime. Thus making you stay awake all night, and hampering your sleep.

Reading in bed, before you sleep, can relax you considerably, as reading helps reduce stress levels.

Reading can distract your mind from daily stresses and worries that causes tension.

Reading stories gives your mind an outlet to be somewhere else for a little while. Which means you can be relieved of your troubles.

Reading also relaxes your muscles and slows down your breathing, which will make you feel calmer.

Reading is an activity that reduces stress, which is the main requisite for a good night’s sleep.

Read a light-hearted book and avoid reading horror books at night.

I like reading fairy tales!!

Life is Simple, so Always Be Happy.

I hope that this blog, helps you find your “Mantra for Happiness”.

What’s your “Mantra for Happiness”?

Do let me know in the comments section below.