Gratitude can go a long long way. Even when it feels as though there is nothing going right there is always something to be greatful for.

Midfulness is awesome for bringing a sense of contentment and even spontanious happiness.

I often think about the majority of the world and how lucky I am to just have been born in the right location. My country does not have a huge population so that is something to be greatful for. I don't have a lot compared to a lot of people living here. But globally I am sure pretty spoiled. I have food, and home, clean water, all my essential needs are met.

Sometimes I just think about how everyone or everything in the universe is connected and how I get to be apart of that. That brings me a lot of peace, makes me not lonely, just to know I am just aparr of the intrigual design of life.

Sometimes just taking a walk outside, just to feel the air, hear the sounds and see the trees or nature really helps to lift me up. Helps me feel connected, where as if I spend too much time removed from nature I start to feel down and disconnected.

Another is using my body. We have amazing bodies that can actually do pretty amazing things. Ever try doing yoga or something like that or just exercise in front of a mirror? I used to feel veey uncomfortable with that until I really started paying attention to the form of my body and the strength. Just taking time to appreciate the vessel that holds me. It's really a beautiful thing, you don't have to have the body pf an athlete to see how amazing it truley is.

I suppose most of these are about gratitude. But it really helps me to be aware of what I really do have and not what I don't.

GenCat, I hope you will be able to find that sense of happiness that you are looking for. I think it's always with us, and often it is just our perspective that needs a shift to feel it.

That saying "seek and you will find", often when we are depressed we "feel" like we want happiness, but our thoughts don't reflect that, we focus on the bad which in turn brings us more of the same feelings. We are not then truly seeking what we want, we are more or less seeking out more of what we don't want and we find it, even unintentionally. In my opinion of course only. But we are not always congruent about what we want and what we are doing, thinking, feeling, or speaking. I think to find true lasting contenment we need to work on having them become congruent, supporting and nurturing what we do want.