Finding out what makes you happy

I realized one day that if I could find a job with people I like working with and a position that was constantly presenting challenges that require creative solutions, I was very happy. That was when I started developing questions to ask in an interview to help me determine if that job met those two criteria. To live in a blissful existence might sound nice, but we would quickly become numb to the joy it brings.

Life requires a counter balance, we could point to yin and yang, good vs. In those dark places we have one choice, to adopt an attitude to work towards small wins every day. Yes, even you! Even happy people! A therapist is an ally to you in this journey we call life. Taking this time is simply allowing you to carve out a concentrated time to focus on you and a therapist helps you uncover truths, deal with the hard stuff and make a strategy to move forward. Take a few minutes to reflect on your top items, this will set the stage for a successful session.

In the end, being happy is something we need to work towards. The most happy people will have most accurately identified what is most true for themselves and acted upon it. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. How do you make the right turn? How do you even know what makes you happy and which way you should go?

When we have an exciting task, we tend to forget the world around us. We joyfully do everything that needs to be done, just because the idea, the process, or the final result are something we adore and are proud of. So to find out what makes your brain produce a ton of endorphins you know, the happiness hormones! Most people can talk about the things they are passionate about without getting tired or bored… Just like with activities you find enjoyable, anything that makes you talk non-stop may be your calling in life.

For example, if you can endlessly talk about french movies, new makeup palettes, or car models — you might find that these things are exactly what makes you happy in life. Try to remember yourself in the early years of your childhood or teenage years: what was your favorite thing then? Was it playing ball? Traveling with your parents? Playing in the sand? Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news. Erin Brodwin. There are science-linked ways to be happier and healthier.

And they're not so hard to do. Jotting down your feelings and star gazing are easy ways to lift your spirits. Here are 22 other easy ways to boost your mood that psychologists and social scientists swear by.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Write down 3 things you're grateful for. Go on a hike or gaze up at the stars on a clear night. Drink coffee not too much, though. Read an adventure story. Get outside. Go for a nature walk. Participate in cultural activities. Listen to sad songs. Set specific goals you know you can achieve. Write down your feelings. Spend money on others, not yourself.

Make time for friends. Smile more. Have the right amount of sex. Be both an optimist and a realist. Get your hands dirty. Eat lunch on the beach. Work out. Master a skill. Be patient.

Happiness tends to grow with age. Loading Something is loading. If you need help defining your personal values, there is a great five-minute assessment tool here.

This one is closely related to your core personal values. For example, if family is one of your core personal values, will taking a job that involves tons of travel make you happy? Take it a step further and really consider dreams you had when you were younger or currently have about what will make you truly happy. Many people equate happiness and success directly to the amount of money they have. You may not be able to do those exact things, but once you know what those true desires are, you expand your thinking and begin to develop a plan to work towards goals you may have never imagined possible.

These are tough questions and the answers may not come easily or quickly. In fact, I found myself having to think and re-think my answers several times. This work is hard but necessary in order to really understanding yourself on a deeper level. My dreams of writing about things that are truly meaningful to me, finding a fulfilling and passionate relationship, being more present with my children, and discovering a higher power are all coming true now that I am focusing my energy in the right direction—and that direction was to look within.

So, find a quiet place and allow yourself plenty of time to go through and really think about each question and then just go for it. Go ahead. Begin your journey. Change direction. Create new dreams or rediscover dreams you left behind. Photo by varun suresh. Dona is a writer, reformed marketing workaholic, and single mother of two teenage boys. She is exploring who she is and what she loves one day at a time.