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Ways to find inner happiness and why it matters
Since you were a small child, you’ve probably heard that happiness comes from external sources. You should look for happiness in other people or in the achievements you have.
So, as you grow up, you keep building on this idea. You start believing more and more that you need to improve your inner happiness. You never think that you can create your happiness.
People spend so much of their time searching for happiness from external sources. Often, they don’t even find it. That’s because this feeling is fleeting if you wildly chase it around. The only way to reach an actual state of fulfillment is to find your inner happiness.
What is inner happiness?
Happiness is the emotional state that emerges when you are filled with joy, satisfaction, or fulfillment. Everyone feels happiness differently. But for everyone, it stems from positive emotions.
Happiness doesn’t have to stem from something happening in the present. You can also feel happy when you reflect on past experiences. People might even say they’re delighted when referring to how they generally think about life.
Because happiness is such a broad term, psychologists refer to it as “subjective well-being. You don’t have to be confined by others’ definitions of happiness. Instead, try to understand your needs and what personally makes you happy.
Most people believe that the only way to be happy is if external factors make you satisfied. But that’s not the case. You don’t need to be passive and wait for life to make you happy. You can make yourself feel good.
Inner happiness is often defined as a state of psychological calmness and self-fulfillment. Internally happy people are the ones who can regulate how they feel, regardless of what’s going on around them.
As you get older, you won’t always have the best job, won’t always be surrounded by people, and your life won’t always be great. If you want to be happy and find inner peace, here is how to do it.
1. Meditate to find your inner happiness
The practice of meditation has been used by people for thousands of years. In the beginning, it was used to bring people closer to the forces of the Universe. Nowadays, psychologists recommend meditation as a way to achieve emotional well-being.
When you meditate, you reflect on how you feel and what your body is sensing. You clear your head and take your time to relax. Meditation is mainly focused on breathing in and out. As you fall into a breathing rhythm, you can start scanning your body to feel the sensations it sends you.
If you’re unhappy, try to meditate. This can help you understand what makes you sad. It can also give you a new perspective on issues and allow you to find silver linings. As you clear the thoughts running through your head, you can start focusing on the things that make you happy. You remember that you are alive, have a roof over your head, and you always have yourself no matter what.
2. Embrace who you are
Often, people are unhappy because they think too little of themselves. They always find fault with every little mistake they make and they are dependent on other people’s opinions. So, if someone else doesn’t praise or compliment them, they automatically assume there’s something wrong with them.
When you embark on a journey to find your inner peace, the first thing you need to do is embrace who you are. The only person who will always be by your side, from birth until death, is you. So, if you want to impress anyone, focus on impressing yourself. It doesn’t matter what other people think, as long as you know you are doing your best.
To embrace yourself, you need to understand that everyone has flaws, and perfection is unattainable. The fact that you have weaknesses is nothing to be ashamed of, as long as you know you’re working on bettering yourself.
Accept you for who you are, even if there’s something you want to change about yourself. Give yourself the validation you need. Don’t wait for others to praise you. When you start embracing yourself, you can start being happy regardless of what others say.
3. Practice gratitude
To be grateful is to learn to affirm all the good life gives you. It means being aware of when something positive happens and valuing the good over the bad at all times. Grateful people continuously develop a positive outlook on life. But acknowledging the good is not enough. To be truly thankful, you need to express the appreciation you feel outwardly.
Some people are inherently more grateful, but gratitude can also be practiced. You can use gratitude journals to write down everything positive that happens. This way, you’ll always be aware of the positives, and you can never forget them. Gratitude impacts brain development in a way that harvests inner happiness.
4. Spend time in nature
As life gets busier, people tend to get stuck in the city more than before. This current lifestyle keeps people away from nature. And this might not seem like an issue, but it can significantly affect your happiness.
When you spend time in nature, you can enjoy the clean air and marvel at the views. This allows you to relax and reflect. All the research regarding the connection between nature and health shows that even a simple walk can heal you.
Nature reduces stress, anger, and fear. It even improves physical health. All these factors make you feel better on the inside, which leads to a sense of happiness.
5. Take responsibility for your actions
To find inner happiness, you need to accept that you are responsible for your actions. Instead of being ashamed of making mistakes, take accountability and try to solve the issues you’ve created. This way, you can regain control over your life while being more at peace with yourself.
When you admit you were wrong, you are one step closer to solving that issue. You don’t have to live with the pressure of an unsolved mistake anymore. -Powerofpositivity
Features
Who knows tomorrow?
Recently a friend posted a sad news on his Facebook page, announcing the death of a school mate who had passed away, suddenly. The report had it that he was on his way to the airport to take a flight to Ghana.
I am sure this man had already informed the wife or a friend or a work colleague at work that he was returning home but he was not to return as a human being but as a dead body.
Such is life and so we need to be circumspect in how we go about things in life. The Bible reminds us that we are like grass which at one point in time looks elegant and the next moment becomes withered according to Psalm 90:5 and 6. It is for this reason that we need to guard our hearts with the word of God so that we shall be motivated to do the right thing, at all times.
This will enable us live on this planet, free from all sorts of troubles in our personal lives, even if we ignore the question of Heaven and Hell. Living a disciplined life delivers us from any kind of trouble as the Bible declares in Galatians 5:23 that against such there is no law.
The uncertainty surrounding our lives on earth is the more reason why people should commit their lives into the hands of the one who created it, in the first place unless you believe that the world created itself and that it appeared from nowhere.
Otherwise, the logical thing to do is to recognize the authority of the creator and surrender to his Lordship. Heaven is real and Hell is real, so for us who know the truth and have received Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the onus lies on us to encourage our relations who have not believed and received Jesus into their lives, to do so.
We are a couple of days from another Easter Resurrection celebration and an opportunity to reflect on our lives in relation to the significance of Easter. In the Bible, the only occasion Jesus, Saviour of the world commands us to celebrate is his death and resurrection.
He never commanded his followers to celebrate his birth but like everything else, we chose to ignore Jesus’s instructions and decided to do what pleases us, just like our forefather and mother in the Garden of Eden.
Let us deliberately choose to do things differently as Christians this Easter, so we can really benefit from all the blessings that the celebration of the death and birth of Jesus, has on offer. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is definitely insanity.
I choose to be different this Easter and I am believing God for a newness of life so God’s glory would be revealed in me to draw the unsaved to him. It is only when people especially the unsaved, see the character of Christ in us, that they can be convinced about the authenticity of Jesus, as Saviour of the world, who can bring transformation in their lives too.
This is what would motivate them to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Let us make this Easter a memorable one that will be cherished for a long time. It is also a period for reconciliation and it would be great if in the spirit of Easter, we would try to reach out to those who have wronged us or have a grudge against us.
This would demonstrate that we have indeed accepted Jesus and that our religious posture is not a sham. May the good Lord grant us the grace to love our neighbours as ourselves, demonstrating the love of God in the process.
Those who have lost their loved ones and Easter brings sad memories, may the good Lord comfort and strengthen you. God bless.
.NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
Features
Cosmetic deformities
COSMETIC deformities refer to physical imperfections or abnormalities that affect an individual’s appearance, often causing emotional distress and impacting their quality of life.
These deformities can be congenital, acquired, or result from various medical conditions or treatments. This article provides an in-depth exploration of cosmetic deformities, their types, causes, effects, and treatment options.
Types of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can affect various parts of the body, including the face, skin, hair, nails, and teeth. Some common types of cosmetic deformities include:
1. Facial deformities: Congenital or acquired abnormalities affecting the shape, structure, or appearance of the face, such as cleft lip and palate, facial paralysis, or facial asymmetry.
2. Skin deformities: Conditions affecting the skin’s texture, tone, or appearance, such as acne, scars, birthmarks, or skin discoloration.
3. Hair deformities: Abnormalities affecting the hair’s growth, texture, or appearance, such as alopecia, hirsutism, or hair loss due to medical conditions or treatments.
4. Nail deformities: Conditions affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the nails, such as nail fungus, nail psoriasis, or nail trauma.
5. Dental deformities: Abnormalities affecting the shape, size, or appearance of the teeth, such as tooth decay, tooth loss, or malocclusion.
Causes of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can result from various factors, including:
1. Genetics: Congenital conditions or inherited traits can cause cosmetic deformities.
2. Trauma: Injuries or accidents can result in cosmetic deformities, such as scars or facial trauma.
3. Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema, can cause cosmetic deformities.
4. Treatments and procedures: Medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery, can result in cosmetic deformities.
5. Aging and environmental factors: Aging, sun exposure, and environmental factors can contribute to cosmetic deformities, such as wrinkles, fine lines, or age spots.
Effects of cosmetic deformities
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, including:
1. Low self-esteem: Cosmetic deformities can lead to feelings of insecurity, self-consciousness, and low self-esteem.
2. Social anxiety: Individuals with cosmetic deformities may experience social anxiety, avoiding social interactions or feeling embarrassed in public.
3. Emotional distress: Cosmetic deformities can cause emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, or stress.
4. Impact on quality of life: Cosmetic deformities can affect an individual’s quality of life, impacting their relationships, career, or overall well-being.
Treatment options for cosmetic deformities
Various treatment options are available to address cosmetic deformities, including:
1. Surgical procedures: Surgical procedures, such as reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery, or dermatological surgery, can correct or improve cosmetic deformities.
2. Non-surgical treatments: Non-surgical treatments, such as laser therapy, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion, can address cosmetic concerns, such as skin texture, tone, or appearance.
3. Medical treatments: Medical treatments, such as topical creams, oral medications, or injectable treatments, can address cosmetic concerns, such as acne, hair loss, or nail deformities.
4. Prosthetic and orthotic devices: Prosthetic and orthotic devices, such as wigs, hairpieces, or dental prosthetics, can help individuals with cosmetic deformities.
5. Counselling and therapy: Counselling and therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychotherapy, can help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological effects of cosmetic deformities.
Conclusion
Cosmetic deformities can have significant emotional and psychological effects on individuals, impacting their quality of life and overall well-being.
Understanding the types, causes, and effects of cosmetic deformities is crucial in addressing these concerns.
Various treatment options are available, ranging from surgical procedures to non-surgical treatments, medical treatments, prosthetic and orthotic devices, and counselling and therapy.
By seeking professional help and support, individuals with cosmetic deformities can improve their appearance, boost their self-esteem, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Reference
1. “Cosmetic Deformities” by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
