Listen here.
Last week, we explored the importance of identifying your core values, especially when you're feeling a little lost in life. Today, I want to dive deeper into one of the key questions we posed: When do I feel happiest, or most like myself?
It's Okay If You Don't Know Yet
I'm sure some of you immediately knew the answer to this question. Maybe it came to you within seconds, or after just a few minutes of reflection.
But I also know there are others who struggled to find an answer.
Before we go any further, I want to address something important:
BOTH OF THESE ARE VALID.
If you couldn't answer that question right away, please don't feel down or discouraged. You're not alone, and we're going to explore some practical ways to help you discover what truly makes you happy.
Three Ways To Discover Your Happiness
1. Take A Trip Down Memory Lane
The first method is simple, but powerful: look back through your camera roll. If you're like me, pay special attention to your 'Favorites' folder -- those are the highlights & moments you wanted to preserve forever.
As you scroll through your memories, you might stumble upon moments you'd completely forgotten about. Suddenly, you'll be transported back to that feeling of pure happiness. These rediscovered moments can reveal patterns about what truly brings you joy.
I encourage you to make this a regular practice. Set a reminder in your phone to review your memories once a month, once a quarter, or even just once a year -- whatever timeframe feels right for you. From those memories, you're bound to find at least a few things that made you truly happy.
2. Start A Happiness Journal
Another powerful tool is journaling. This can build on the first exercise or stand completely on its own.
When you sit down to journal about happiness, create the right environment. Find a comfortable space, play your favorite music, light your favorite candle. Notice how those small rituals alone can spark ideas about what makes you feel most like yourself?
Even if you can identify things that make you happy fairly quickly, I want you to take an extra 5-10 minutes to go deeper. Ask yourself: Why do these things make me happy? How can I incorporate them into my life more frequently? What do they have in common?
This deeper reflection is where the real insights emerge.
3. Explore New Experiences
This last idea is actually a two-parter, because both approaches share a similar intent: expanding your horizons.
Part One: Seek Out Local Events
I encourage you to find local events that interest you. It could be something as simple as a free concert in the park, or something more hands-on like a sip-and-paint class or pottery workshop.
I truly believe that art helps open up your mind and makes you think differently. By taking time to be creative and trying something new, you might discover what makes you happiest -- because maybe the only reason you haven't found that thing yet is because you haven't experienced it.
Part Two: Invest In Learning
Consider investing in a platform like Skillshare (and no, this isn't an ad or sponsored content -- just a genuine suggestion). With countless classes available across every imaginable topic, platforms like this can really open up your possibilities for trying something new.
Who knows? The thing that makes you happiest might be something you haven't even discovered yet.
A Final Word of Encouragement
Don't get down on yourself if you struggled to find an answer to that question initially. Speaking for myself, I regularly come across things that make me happy -- and they're often things I never even knew about or tried before.
Remember, finding what makes you happiest may take some time. But don't close yourself off to the opportunity of discovering it just because you haven't before. You'll be truly surprised by what you find.
The journey to understanding yourself is ongoing, and every step you take -- whether it's scrolling through old photos, putting pen to paper, or signing up for that pottery class -- brings you closer to living a life aligned with your truest, happiest self.
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