How to Find Happiness Now by Identifying Your Happiness Triggers

Are you aware of what makes you happy? Most people aren't. For most people, happiness doesn't come everyday and that's not the kind of life God wants for His people.

The Bible tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. God wants us to always be happy but most of us cannot be because we choose to focus on the bad over the good.

Most of us are aware of what triggers our anger, some of us are aware of what triggers our sadness, but very few of us are aware of what triggers our happiness.  Knowing your happiness triggers is important, it enables you to live your life as joyfully as God had planned. 

If you've never heard of happiness triggers before, don't worry, I'll explain it all within this post. You'll learn how to find happiness now, even if you're all alone.

Knowing Your Happiness Triggers

So how do you figure out what your happiness triggers are? Well, there are three ways to do it. Feel free to read through all three and then choose what works best for you.

1. Bring Back To Memory

Sit down with a notebook and bring back to memory all the things that have ever made you happy. Try to remember all the moments or things that made you happy, comfortable, relaxed or joyful.

It's usually the simple things like a hug, a smell, or some coffee that make us happiest, so don't leave those out.

Write down everything you can think of and then choose to intentionally add them into each day.

2. Be On The Lookout

Another way to become aware of your happiness triggers is to be on the lookout. This simply means to be mindful and take note of the things that are making you happy as they are happening.

For example, if you're watching a sunset and feel immense joy while doing so, write it down. Then make it a habit to watch the sunset as much as you possibly can.

Do this for a week or two and you will find multiple happiness triggers that you can add into your day to day activities.

3. Create Your Own Happiness

If you find it difficult to pinpoint what makes you happy, it may be best to create your own happiness. To do this, make a list of things that you will use as a trigger for happiness, I'll list a few examples below.

• Choose a happy color. If you choose yellow as your happy color, allow yourself to smile every time you see the color yellow.
• Choose a scent of happiness. If you drink coffee every morning, why not make the smell of coffee a happiness trigger? This way, you know you'll be happy as soon as the boiling water hits the coffee beans every morning.
• Choose a feeling of happiness. If you feel joy every time you hug someone you love. Make it a happiness trigger, then choose to hug your spouse, children or parents every day.
• Choose a taste of happiness. Do you love the taste of chocolate? Cotton candy? Maybe salad? Whatever it is, make it your taste of happiness. Then, whenever you feel down, go get your taste of happiness.
• Choose a sound of happiness. Whether it's your child's voice, a ringtone, or wind chimes. Figure out what sound evokes joy in you and let it trigger your happiness.
• Choose a happiness activity. If you feel joyful every time you perform an act of kindness, do more of that. If you feel fulfilled and positive every time you work out, do more of that. Whatever makes you happy, choose to do more of it, because anything that triggers happiness is worth giving time and energy to.
• Choose a symbol of happiness. If there's a shape or symbol that makes you happy, allow it to be your trigger. Whether it's the heart emoji on your phone or the cross on your jewelry, it has the power to trigger happiness if you'd let it.

If you wondering what the Bible says about happiness, check out the below 21 Bible Scriptures On Happiness

1.  The joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV)

2.  I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. . . You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:8-9; 11 ESV)

3.  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (Psalm 19:8 NIV)

4.  For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5 ESV)

5.  Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. (Psalm 34:5 NLT)

6.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NIV)

7.  Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! (Psalms 126:5 ESV)

8.  Happy are the people whose God is the LORD. Psalm 144:15

9.  The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. (Proverbs 10:28 ESV) 

10.  A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. (Proverbs 15:13 ESV)

11.  To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

12.  Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7 ESV)

13.  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:3 NIV)

14.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 ESV) 

15.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11 ESV)

16.  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. . . Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.  (John 16:22 & 24 ESV)

17.  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 BSV)

18.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. (Galatians 5:22 NIV)

19.  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

20.  Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. (James 5:13 )

21. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13 NIV) 

Remember, God wants you to always live a joyful life. And even though life isn't always easy, you will always be able to find a little bit of joy to get you through each day. We have created a downloadable book where you can study the above 21 Bible verses, as well as three different work  happiness triggers worksheet.  You can download a copy now by visiting our Gumroad Store.  

Knowing your happiness triggers is the easiest and quickest method to feeling happy. This way, every time you feel anxious, down, or stressed out, you can look at your list of triggers and choose to do something that brings you joy in that moment. 

Related Articles: Christians and Self-Care: What Does the Bible Say

About the Author: 

Corine Williams, Ph.D. is Clinical Psychologist that is currently seeing clients in the States of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. You can find out more about her practice by visiting www.therapyforchristians.com/corinewilliams.  In addition to providing individual therapy, Dr. Williams is also passionate about writing books and designing merchandise that educate, uplift, and normalize mental health subject in the Christian community. You can find out more about her at  www.booksbycorine.com or by visiting her amazon profile here: https://www.amazon.com/Corine-Hyman/e/B00AWZ5FL2

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