Boosting inner strength for long-term happiness

Happiness is often described as a choice; you can be happy or choose to be otherwise. Yet, deciding to be happy doesn’t always ensure it. At times, forcing a smile and pretending that everything is perfect may not be effective. Happiness and inner strength, abstract in nature, pose challenges in terms of practical cultivation. Inner strength, synonymous with resilience, measures your ability to face life’s challenges while preserving a positive outlook, transforming hardships into opportunities for personal growth.

Happiness is different for everyone and can be hard to put into words. Long-term happiness is like a little glow in your mind that makes each day better. It comes from the journeys, experiences, and moments that make you feel something. To keep that happiness going, it helps to see life positively and appreciate everything you have.

Here are seven simple practices that will help you build inner strength and, in turn, long-term happiness:

· Practise self-awareness

Self-awareness represents the first step in building inner strength. By taking the time to discover your talents, skills, weaknesses, limits, and aspirations, you will gain a better understanding of yourself. That, in turn, will help you invest in activities that put your talents to good use and learning opportunities that sharpen your skill set.

· Listen to your body

There are times when your body communicates what your mind cannot. When we are under a lot of stress or going through a rough patch, many of us tend to overlook the psychological signs that might indicate a problem requiring immediate attention. Did you know that your body and mind share a close link? In other words, what occurs in your head echoes throughout your entire body and vice versa. Whenever you are feeling unwell, take a moment to listen to your body. Perhaps that uncomfortable sensation in your body is not of a physical, but psychological nature.

· Discover your talents

What is something you believe you excel at, something you genuinely enjoy doing and that yields exciting results? Unlike skills, talents have an innate, biological component. Nevertheless, refining them requires engaging in activities that provide opportunities to exercise and develop your innate talents. The most effective way to uncover your talents is by reflecting on your childhood years. What activities did you genuinely enjoy? How did you spend your days? In which activities did you excel? Importantly, consider if there’s a way to harness those talents to enhance the quality of your current life.

· Invest in your skills

Besides the things you’re naturally good at, you also need to work on improving your skills. Building inner strength is about both learning more about yourself and growing as a person. In simple terms, a skill is just being really good at something. It means trying your best in a particular area and aiming for great results.

· Spend time with like-minded people

To strengthen your inner self, spend time with people who appreciate you for who you are and encourage you to surpass your self-imposed limits. Surround yourself with individuals who inspire you to continually reinvent yourself. These are the people with whom you can share ideas and receive valuable feedback, providing crucial support in the challenging journey of building inner strength.

· Open yourself to new experiences

Because inner strength requires mental resilience and flexibility, consider exercising these valuable traits by engaging in new activities. And the best way to do this is by getting involved in new activities. Think about something you’ve never tried before but are curious to experiment with—something exciting, inspiring, and insightful. While it might feel uncomfortable initially, remember that new experiences contribute to building resilience and creativity, both essential elements of inner strength.

· Be patient

One of the most important aspects to consider when building your inner strength is patience. Growth doesn’t happen overnight; you need to invest in this goal on a daily basis and take advantage of each learning opportunity life throws down your path. You might not feel the positive effects today or tomorrow, but rest assured knowing that as long as you stick to this path, good things are bound to happen.

SOURCES: Harvard Health; Dr Rivane Chybar-Virgo

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com