Five Practices to Stop Waiting and Start Living Happy

Research shows that over 80% of people seek new experiences that make them smile and laugh. But what if we can find happiness with the experiences we already have?

Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned monk and peace activist, suggests that we do not need to achieve something or wait for all our problems to end to be happy. We just have to change our idea of happiness. 

He says happiness is temporary, like everything else. So, for it to stay, we have to learn how to nurture it. Join me in finding out how we can find happiness and what we can do to nurture it in our daily lives.

Five Practices to Nurture Happiness

In the book No Mud, No Lotus, Thich Nhat Hanh discusses five practices for conditioning our bodies and minds to happiness. 

1. Letting Go 

According to Thich Nhat Hanh, we attach ourselves to many things that we think are necessary for our happiness and security. But such beliefs can hinder our happiness.

We think getting a job, salary, or partner is crucial for our happiness. But even after achieving these things, we continue to suffer. We are afraid of losing or cling to what we have achieved. 

He says letting go can be difficult, but once we do, we can find happiness right where we are—we don’t have to search for it elsewhere.

As a writer, I constantly remind myself not to get too attached to the outcome but to find joy in the process. The days I can let go of the future, my mind is more peaceful.

How to Let Go

To help us practice letting go of our strong beliefs, Thich Nhat Hanh asks us to write them all down.

What are some of the things you are attached to? Is it the idea of a better partner, future success, or a bigger house? What can you let go of to be happy right now? Let’s begin by releasing one or two each week.

2. Inviting Positive Seeds

Thich Nhat Hanh says we all have positive and negative seeds within us. Whichever seeds we water sprout within us. 

We can water the positive seeds that bring us happiness, such as understanding, joy, and compassion, instead of the negative seeds, such as pride, arrogance, and jealousy. We have a choice in what we cultivate within us.

How to Invite Positive Seeds

Per Thich Nhat Hanh, If we have a seed of arrogance within us, we can slowly practice mindfulness of compassion each day, and eventually, the arrogance will go down.

In my experience, bringing to mind someone I find challenging during daily meditation and practicing compassionate thoughts toward them has helped me change my perspective.

3. Mindfulness-Based Joy

Thich Nhat Hanh says that mindfulness is the source of happiness. With mindfulness, we realize that what we already have is sufficient to be happy. We can create happiness by recognizing the small things that bring us joy. 

How to Practice Mindfulness

1. We can practice mindfulness all day long by mindfully breathing, walking, sitting, washing dishes, and being fully present in any other activity.
2. Practice happiness by making a list of things that bring you joy. Is it the spring flowers, your pet, or your child? Can you think of a few things that are making you happy now?
3. To cultivate happiness, Thich Nhat Hanh uses this morning verse to set the right tone for our day: 

4. Concentration

Thich Nhat Hanh says concentration is born from mindfulness. When we have concentration, we don’t get carried away with visions of the past or worries about the future. 

How to Practice Concentration

We can start by concentrating on something like our breathing to practice concentration. Each time we focus on something, we build our concentration.

Watching the thoughts come and go into my mind during meditation also helps me build concentration.

5. Insight

According to Thich Nhat Hanh, insight is the clarity that frees us from negative things like jealousy or anger. Everyone has insight, he says, but we don’t always use it to increase our happiness. 

How to Gain Insight

Practicing mindfulness and concentration also helps us gain insight. When we face challenges, Thich Nhat Hanh suggests we use our insight to reflect on past experiences, remember that we are in a better place, and learn to be happy. Having insight allows us to change our experiences in life consciously.

Building a Life of Happiness

Happiness doesn’t have to be a distant dream like a new job, partner, or house. Thich Nhat Hanh’s five practices show us that we can find happiness in small things and that happiness needs to be practiced and nurtured.

It begins with letting go of all our attachments, nurturing positive qualities within us, and practicing mindfulness so we can experience more joy in our lives.

With mindfulness, we can develop the insight needed to create happiness right where we are. Can you think of things that bring you happiness in your life? Start your journey today and invite more joy into your life. 

Resources

Check out Thich Nhat Hanh’s book No Mud, No Lotus—The Art of Transforming Suffering and explore resources to help cultivate mindfulness, such as breathing exercises, walking meditation, and more.

The Headspace Guide to Meditation and Mindfulness: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicumbe is an excellent book for beginners.

Meditation Apps: Headspace & Calm are great apps to help you learn meditation.