The Oxford Dictionary defines happiness as the state of pleasurable contentment of the mind; deep pleasure in or contentment with one's circumstances.

Over the past 10 days, I have consciously decided to embark on the search for happiness. What, if anything, I uncover is unknown, but I do hope that regardless, amidst my daily blog and further understanding of myself, something may come to light that could contribute positively to someone's life.

One of the most interesting things about the first 10 days I have found is that throughout the search, my consciousness has increased. What has been both positive and negative is that I have delved deeper into everyday life, listened more intensely to people's perceptions of happiness, and tried to decipher bits and pieces that are common trends among people perceived as happy individuals. This has emphasized a key characteristic I believe in the fact that being present in the moment is a crucial element. The ability to live in the moment for what it is, is so important in finding contentment with your surroundings, being content with the current moment, and subsequently embracing every possible positive and happy moment with open arms. Because there will be ups and downs along the way, that's inevitable. The key is to filter the moments and look for positivity wherever you can, embrace negative emotions with the view that everything happens for a reason, and take lessons from every possible moment, looking to grow in that moment.

I watch the world go by, and one thing I have noticed over the years, especially in the last 5-10 years, as social media has begun to exert its influence on the masses, is that more people are starting to search for happiness through others' perception of them. It's ironic that people think that creating a visual record of their lives for their followers creates a perception of how fun, enjoyable, and happy their lives are, in the hope that their followers will endorse it and that will create happiness. So many times, at concerts or sporting events during crucial moments or just something amazing, I see the vast majority of the audience reach for their phones to record. Sure, the ability to record and save the moment is enticing, but the sacrifice is that you don't truly get to live in that moment. So, when you look back and re-watch the footage, are you seeing a happy moment, or are you just seeing the perception of a happy moment from someone who perceived that point in time as a happy moment?

I have enjoyed this journey so far, and although it's only been a short time, I feel the direction could lead me to answers. Whether they be answers to general questions like 'What is happiness?' and 'How do I achieve happiness?' or answers within myself that I don't even understand the questions to yet.

Every 10 days moving forward, I will filter back through the previous 10 days and expand on significant points of interest that I have found, felt, and that have opened my eyes to new questions and potential leads.

May the universe guide me on my search for happiness and deliver me answers to try and improve the lives of all, one happy moment at a time.

Thanks,

Dean