International Happiness Day 2023: Being happy through mindfulness

International Day of Happiness is observed on March 20 every year across the globe. Established by the United Nations to outline the importance of happiness within our lives, the day also aims to highlight the significance of well-being. While happiness is fleeting and aspirational for most, certain practices, such as being mindful, can aid holistic well-being. On International Happiness Day, we got a range of experts from ThinkRight.me to share actionable tips that can be adapted to enhance happiness in our everyday lives. 
  
Ritu Gupta, life coach and neuro-linguistic programming therapist 

Acceptance 
One of the most important tenets of living mindfully is acceptance, and it is not the same as tolerance but honouring individual differences. 
For eg: If you have a difference of opinion at work or home, what do you do? Lash out or stay silent? Practicing acceptance and thus mindfulness would mean, to agree, to disagree without losing control over your emotions. Responding mindfully would be like, communicating not what you dislike or disagree with but what you want or need, maintaining personal boundaries and mutual respect for self and others. 

Responsibility 
The second most important tenet of living mindfully is responsibility. Often mistaken as taking others` load onto your shoulders, responsibility is about taking ownership of everything you do and being aware of the impact it would have on your physical-emotional being just as much as it would affect the environment around, people alike. 

For eg: You are upset with others’ actions, be it at home, on the road, at the workplace, or just watching the news on the television or social media. Practicing responsibility and thus mindfulness would mean, taking ownership of your role in that equation, if only you have one. You can only take responsibility for your doing and not for others (read misdoings). 

Kindness 
Being kind to oneself and others is quintessential to staying authentic and thus living mindfully. 
For eg: You often judge people and feel judged most of the time. Is this your reality too? Practicing kindness and thus living mindfully, is to stay true to yourself. Being clear of your intention in doing everything you do, allowing yourself to feel how you feel and feeling it fully, and seeing other’s actions from a space of non-judgment helps one respond from the space of clarity and not react. It is ok to be angry. It is ok to be guilty. It is ok to be sad. You are human! Be one. 
And bring in a little more Love, each day. Living mindfully is simple. You would know when you are tired and stressed, drink water, and stay hydrated to allow the body to cool down. When you feel tired but not stressed, your body is seeking rest, so sleep. When you are not very tired, but stress is taking the best of you, find yourself a silent corner, journal or gently close your eyes and simply observe your thoughts. Allow them all to come up. Meditate. Your mind needs some decluttering to restore its balance. 
  
Vidisha Kaushal, sound healing and life mastery expert 
  
Practicing non-resistance and non-judgment to the present moment
Don’t like where you are or who you are with? How about accepting what exists? How about telling yourself it is not in alignment with you instead of practicing criticism and judgement, once you stop resisting and judging, you are free to make a change in your situation. But without acceptance, we can fall into an endless pit of victimhood or the why me syndrome. 

Check-in with your body 
The body is a storehouse of emotions, especially unprocessed ones. As often as you can, close your eyes and check how it feels inside the body. Instead of running away from unpleasant sensations, and thoughts, embrace them, give them love, and watch them eventually dissolve. 

Spend some time in nature
Often the mind oscillates between the past and the future. Nature organically disrupts the oscillating mind and transports us into the present moment and heals us at the same time. So lean against a tree or sit and watch the sky and notice how present you feel. 
  
Nishtha Bijlani, yoga expert 

Grounding 
This can be best done as soon as you wake up. Take the time to slowly rest your feet on the ground. Take slow and mindful steps around the house. Be aware of each step and the sensations on the soles of the feet. Enjoy the connection to the earth. Let it slow you down. Make sure to do so bare feet. This can also be practiced later in the day. The effect is heightened when done on grass, sand, or earth.  
  
Mindful eating 
Growing up in an Indian household, we have always been corrected by our elders to chew our food slowly and not talk while eating. They were always teaching us to be mindful. Learning to savour your food without distractions has become a lost art. Make a small gratitude prayer before you start your meal. Take in all the colours and smells on your plate. Take each bite slowly without a rush. Stay connected to your food from the first touch to the last swallow. Watch how this positively impacts your digestion and your relationship with food. 
  
Breath awareness  
Breath is one thing we often take for granted. Most of it is an involuntary action of the body, hence, it is also easiest to ignore. But by simply being aware of your breath you can be in better control of your emotions and thoughts which as a result puts you in better control of your actions.  
  
Allot 5 to 10 minutes in the day to sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and draw your attention to your nostrils. Be here to simply observe the breath moving in and out. Resist the urge to change the breath. Instead, simply observe. 

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