Celebrating Happy Happiness Happens Month!

In 1998, a group of happy people got together and started the Secret Society of Happy People to give happy people their own tribe. The founder and author of Practical Happiness, Pamela Gail Johnson determined her mission on earth and purpose in life is to make the world a happier place, stating with helping people feel happy one at a time.

But she soon realized, it should not be a secret and others needed to celebrate their happiness. So the society declared August would be Happiness Happens Month!

So what is happiness? It is personal and unique to each individual. Being able to balance emotions and making an effort to experience more positive feelings than negative ones is key.

But finding happiness through hardships and difficult times can sometimes takes too much effort or even evoke feelings of guilt, especially if we have a loved one or friend living with dementia.

Sharing in meaningful activities with your loved one can bring moments of joy, but finding and allowing yourself to seek happiness is so important in taking care of your own well-being and quality of life.

Studies show people who practice gratitude and journaling each day one thing you are grateful for are happier people. Or bringing happiness to another person, can also make you happy. Calling an old friend and letting them know you are thinking about them, or dropping note in the mail to just say hello.

So rather you are an over the top happy person, or believe need to give yourself permission to take a moment to find joy, or least peace. Researchers find trying the aphorism that suggests you “fake till you make it” actually can work. Even a fake smile can make us happier and feel more positive!