How many of you feel like happiness escapes you? Especially with the stress of Christmas!

Its there one minute and gone the next; leaving you wondering what you are doing wrong.

Well I have news for you.⁣⁣ Here are 5 facts about happiness and how you can find a better balance.

1. Happiness is transitory.

First of all, sorry not sorry. If you are aiming to be happy all the time, you are fighting a losing battle.

Last time I checked most of us don’t live in a cave, in the middle of nowhere, with our survival needs met automatically. Even if we did, it’s possible that it wouldn’t leave us feeling content, purposeful and full of joy.

You see, happiness is not a permanent feeling because we experience life as if happens and not everything that happens in life, will provide you with positive emotions.

No one is happy all the time and that is normal. Therefore, realising this, helps you to flow with life’s ups and downs better.

2. Comparison is the thief of joy.

Joy is one of the many things that contribute towards feeling happy.

As above, we have already established that it’s normal to not be happy all the time, but it can be easy to presume others are. You are bombarded daily with ads, lifestyles, products and social interactions that suggest others are living their best lives constantly.

When you begin to compare your life to that of others? Cue a big dose of stolen joy. Thing is, the point you are missing is…

3. Happiness is not external.

Around 50% of happiness is determined by our genes, and 10% determined by life circumstances. It really is an inside job, literally!

But what about the other 40% I hear you ask! Well, 40% of our happiness is actually determined by our daily activities. We cultivate feelings of happiness based on what we are doing with our day and the mindset we adopt.

Building relationships, providing yourself with activities you naturally enjoy, being thankful, resting, exercising and getting out in nature, are all things you can work on, for your 40% boost of happy.

4. The more you focus on measuring how happy you are, the less happy you are.

When you obsess over measuring your happiness, its like checking the weighing scales every hour and expecting a change. (Throw those scales away while you’re there, but that’s a post for another day)

Cultivating happy is about noticing it throughout the day, rather than chasing it. It’s about seeing the moments, in the moment (being mindful) Those snippets of joy, contentment, purposefulness, those warm fuzzy feelings- And being thankful for that moment of it.

5. Happiness comes from purpose.

Remember that 40% of daily activity that contributes towards happy feelings?

The majority of that, relates directly to feeling purposeful. It’s the job that feels important to you, generating feelings of making a difference.

Its that hobby that makes you feel like you can take on the world. Its anything that helps you to feel like you are here for a reason and that the world wouldn’t be the same without you. (spoiler alert, it wouldn’t be!)

So there you have it. Happiness is all about you! Its not permanent, but there are plenty of things you can do to embrace when you are happy, increase happiness and feel okay with the not so happy times to. After all, everyone has them.