happiness Archives - Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel

November 5, 2020 2 Mins Read

Chasing Happiness

All we could ever ask for in our lifetime is happiness; enough moments to create memories to add into a big book to read at the end; and a family to share it with.

I don’t think I was ever happy like I am now. Yes it’s not perfect, but at least I chased my happy down. I clung onto it, and squeezed every drop from it.

Happiness is a direction, not a place.
Sydney J. Harris

I used to sit on the beach and look at the waves rolling in and out onto the beach; synchronising my breathing with the rhythm of the sea; blocking out all those million-a-mile thoughts that always run through my head. It was my place to find calmness, happiness and quiet – but I haven’t set foot there for more than a year and a half.

Lockdown hasn’t been kind to my million-thoughts-a-second mind either. I haven’t been fully able to organise my thoughts or mourn. I’ve just been existing in that space surrounded by flashes of unquietness.

Sometimes I think if I stay away too long from the sea I’m missing out. I get so tired that I let happiness escape a little bit at a time. It’s like having that sugar fix or bite of chocolate, but just at a much bigger scale.

A place to find happiness quietly

The sea is one of the most magical places. It is both calming and unsettling. It takes, it gives. It is endless.

It’s almost unbelievable to think that I only saw the sea twice in my life by the time I turned 18. Thereafter it’s call just became stronger and I started going more and more. Eventually we used to escape to the sea 3 or 4 times a year. One of those times always coincided with my birthday so I could have a cupcake on the beach. I even took my cat, Genie, to the beach twice.

A time to hold onto happiness

Just like the sea can drag you away from the beach or a pandemic can isolate you from those that you love, so can you be separated from your happiness. It is up to you to claim and guard your own happiness. It is up to you to decide how much happiness you would like to squeeze into your life.

February 8, 2020 2 Mins Read

Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 5 Balance

Finding happiness doesn’t have a shortcut. You should be willing to take a chance on the experiences, things and people that will bring happiness.

Happiness cannot be found anywhere else but in yourself
You have to find your freedom and for that you will need to be brave
Rediscover the world through childlike eyes and find the good and beauty in the small things
There is always something to be grateful for, you just need to find it
Find a hobby that makes you happy
Always be yourself
Never step on others to be closer to the sun
Find the balance in your life/work/love…

You continuously need to focus on maintaining your happiness, ensuring that work doesn’t becoming your most important hours within a day.

How to get control over your work/life balance

Prioritise your physical, emotional and mental health before that of the office’s demands
Unplug – take your lunch hour outside of your office, mute work workplace chat goups
Set boundaries and stick to your work hours at the office
Plan your holidays at the beginning of the year and book it – you will have something to look forward to all year
Make time for yourself – even if you have kids and a husband or partner that also demands your attention
Set personal goals just as you need to set professional goals

For your mind

This week you can choose between new affirmations
- I am an exceptional listener. I’m mindful. I’m present.
- I can listen patiently while others talk – but I also want to be heard.
- My voice is my power. I deserve to be heard.
Set your personal goals for the next 6 or even 12 months

For your body

I know I’ve been hammering on the breathing exercises, but breathing in and out and focusing on it clears your mind.

Continue with last week’s breathing exercise:
- Stretch your arms above your head and put your palms together – be ready, because you will be exhaling next
- Lower both arms to shoulder height and stretch to either side while exhaling
- Breathe in while moving your arms back into the stretched position above your head
- Repeat 20 times
Keep on walking while enjoying the scenery

For your soul

Create an entry in your Gratitude Journal about the activities you do that makes you happy
Plan a trip to a destination you have always wanted to explore and make a plan to book it in the next year

January 20, 2020 3 Mins Read

Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 3 Appreciation & Gratitude

I feel the good vibes after week 2 of my Roadmap to a #HappierMeChallenge. In the past 2 weeks I have done my breathing exercises, paid compliments and enjoyed the smiles of strangers, I even shared a slice of watermelon with 2 strangers on their lunch break outside of Northgate Mall.

The Watermelon incident

I had a great day before stopping at the mall. I had just came from Amazing K autism school where they were blessed to have received a huge donation from Puma Energy. (You can read all about it on their Facebook page.) I felt good. I had a smile on my face – and that is when a complete stranger called me over and offered a slice. The old me would’ve just said no thanks and moved on, but there I was eating a sweet slice of watermelon with 2 strangers on the step of the mall. The universe truly returns good vibes when you put them out there too.

Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.
Zig Ziglar

Start part 3 of your weekly Roadmap to a #HappierMeChallenge

This week is all about acknowledging the good people in your life, the friends that stand by you, the things that you love – but most importantly I want you to appreciate yourself.

Here is your “homework” for this week:

Tell the people closest to you just how much they mean to you. Say I love you to your significant other.
Show your appreciation to yourself and go for a coffee date or meal with yourself.
Be grateful for all that you have – from the shoes in your closet to the photos you have of great times spent together.

For your mind

How is your online course going? Have you finished a few modules?
Did you opt for a book and read a few pages?
Choose an new affirmation and repeat to yourself whenever you remember or have a moment to yourself
- I choose to be thankful no matter my circumstances.
- I am grateful for my health, prosperity and love.
- I am blessed.
- I am grateful for everything I have, the people that love me and will leave my door open for more good.

For your body

Increase your walking to 20 minutes a day
Keep up the simple breathing exercise in your daily routine – do 50 a day
Stretch your arms in front of you and place your palms on top of each other – inhale. Now let go by moving your left arm to the left until it is in line with your body – let your right hand run down your arm. Now breathe in and center your arms again. Repeat to your right

For your soul

Create a list of all the things that you are grateful for
Start a creative Gratitude Journal and illustrate each of these things/people/thoughts – let your Gratitude Journal grow and evolve as you get more comfortable with penning your thoughts

You may want to go to the beginning of this self-care challenge:

I really feel gratitude every day in my life that I’m able to do what I love, and I think, because I have that passion and spirit, I’ve had success.
Christen Press

January 13, 2020 2 Mins Read

Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 2 Letting Go

I hope that you connected to a stranger by paying a compliment last week – how did it feel when they smiled and thanked you? Do you think you banked enough good karma to get you through 2020 – or do you think you’d like to continue banking good karma?

Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.
Margaret Lee Runbeck

Week 2’s challenge is about letting go of toxic relationships or anger and to mend relationships.

Your most important soul homework is to forgive yourself for any bad decisions you may have made – write yourself a letter or email and stash it away until this challenge tells you to read it again
Create a list of all the people you want to rebuild relationships with and those that you need to let go of – write down a reason for each and how you will be dealing with each person

For your body

Your body has probably thanked you by now for getting it to move and deserves a treat. Take an hour this week for self-care and get a manicure/pedicure/haircut/massage
Keep up the 10 minute walking
Add a simple breathing exercise into your daily routine – do 20 a day
Stretch your arms in front of you and place your palms on top of each other – inhale. Now let go by moving your left arm to the left until it is in line with your body – let your right hand run down your arm. Now breathe in and center your arms again. Repeat to your right

For your mind

Start your course or DIY learning this week. Set yourself an attainable goal of completing x number of chapters/parts.
Choose an affirmation and repeat to yourself whenever you remember or have a moment to yourself
- I choose to be happy, healthy and whole
- I embrace the parts of me that need love the most
- I am a priority in my life

That’s it for your Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 2 – did Week 1 make a difference in how you feel?

You may want to go to the beginning of this self-care challenge:

#HappierMeChallenge

February 25, 2014 1 Min Read

Happiness in February

In my struggles to come to terms with infertility, trying to find a surrogate and turning into a right royal bitch I have barely had time to think of topics to write about, but here goes…

In the month of February I had only a few days of happy. Most of the month I looked like my whole body was dragging, but I tried to find the silver linings. Here they are:

My awesome cat, Mr Genie. I love that he is now staying at home more and always in my general vicinity.
Cool feature necklace I bought for V.day as I couldn’t make myself not wear black.
Winning an awesome Carol Boyes wine stopper. I used to have parties and hope to do this again someday and whip this out.
I dyed my hair a shade towards red and love it. I think I will be going lighter until I feel like a ghost.

What will be coming up that might cheer me up:

Seeing my primary school friends – because they are awesome people.
Going to Ballito for the week of my birthday.
Seeing my parents for cupcakes on the beach on my birthday.
End of summer sales!