Cultivating Happiness Within Ourselves
by Crystal Grafton Combs, Nu Beta (U of Mississippi), International Vice President
If you Google “quotes on happiness,” more than 1 million results will pop up in less than one second (.31 seconds to be exact). Everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Taylor Swift has been quoted on the subject. The pursuit of happiness has been a goal of mankind for centuries. It was even written into the United States Declaration of Independence!
As women, we are active and engaged in our local and global communities. Thanks to technology, we are now more connected than ever before. However, we often find ourselves balancing the obligations of our professional and personal lives much like we balance our phone, our grandé skinny latté no foam, our charging cable and our car keys—all in the same hand. We very rarely take advantage of time for ourselves, taking a much-needed break to relax, recover, and rejuvenate our minds, our bodies and our souls.
If you missed our Fraternity’s social media series celebrating Women’s Health Week in May, please take a moment to check it out. It features sisters across North America sharing advice on how to live a happier and healthier life. From focusing on your physical health and how to get started in a gym to sharing information on women’s eye health and nutrition, these sisters are professionals in their respective fields and provide some great insight on how to incorporate a healthy lifestyle into a happier you.
There is definitely a connection between a woman’s health and her happiness, and the pursuit of these goals is not new. On the recommendation of a sister, I recently read the book, “Girl, Wash Your Face.” Author Rachel Hollis shares three things that helped her find happiness. I liked these so much that I wrote them down where I could see them every day.
First, we must stop comparing ourselves to others. We simply must work to be the very best version of ourselves. Second, we must surround ourselves with positivity. After all, we are the company that we keep. And third, we must figure out what makes us happy and do those things. By the way, research has shown that when women spend time with our friends, we are actually happier people! This is another great reason to spend some time with your sisters!
Some of us find happiness sipping iced tea on a quiet summer afternoon. Others find it in turning the pages of a really good book. Still others find it in hearing the laughter of our loved ones echo across a room. But how often do we take time to truly enjoy these moments, cultivating happiness within ourselves? I challenge each of you to think about these questions, ask yourself how you can apply them to your own life, and then take action! In the words of Taylor Swift, “Happiness and confidence are the prettiest things you can wear.” So be fearless and find your happiness!