I’m writing to you from some place special today. It’s a place that is near and dear to my heart. I’m curled up in a blanket with a hot mug of herbal tea in hand, the ocean within view, and my writing apparatus at my fingertips. In other words, I’m in my happy place.
We all know the saying, “happiness is a state of mind”. For introverts, the right environment is key for creating the right state of mind. We need to find our own little introvert friendly happy place.
In our happy place, there is probably something soft and cuddly – a blanket, an animal friend, a big comfy couch. there is also likely something that tickles our brain cilia, like music, art supplies, or a pen and paper. Let’s be honest, Netflix is probably accessible, too.
Photo credit: @introvertdoodles
We might have a view of nature from our happy place. Perhaps it’s even situated smack dab in the middle of nature – say, under a tree, or on the shores of a private beach. The important thing is that our happy place allows us to retreat from external reality and focus on our internal world.
The obstacles to happy
No matter where our happy place is located, there are sure to be some obstacles to getting there. Often, the obligation monster creeps up on us the moment we even think of retreating to our happy place. “Oh, but you have too much to do to take a break,” he says.
Photo credit: www.owlturd.com
In our culture, we are told that solitude is a sin. Taking time for yourself is unproductive, and therefore, should be kept to a minimum. A lot of extroverts just plain don’t understand our need to retreat. They see it as more of an indulgence than a necessity. We wonder if they might be right.
Going to our happy place – whether that be a blanket fort in our bedroom, or a patch of grass beneath a shady tree – is an absolute necessity for introverts. It allows us to recharge. It also keeps us quiet types sane as we navigate a noisy extrovert’s world. Not only that.
Your brain needs a break
Going to our happy place slows down our busy brain and prevents mental exhaustion. Since we are prone to overstimulation, introverts need to spend time in environments that give our brain a break. We need quiet comforts as much as some especially chatty extroverts need to hear the sound of their own voice.
Sometimes, even going to our happy place isn’t enough to quiet our loud mind. Our sweet solitude is sullied by worries and obsessive thoughts. No matter how hard we try, we can’t get our brain to shut up.
What about you?
Where is your happy place? And how often do you go there?
Do you feel guilty about going to your happy place?
Xo,
P.S. Early bird registration on my Master The Introvert Mind virtual workshop ends soon. Reserve your spot now and save $20.
As always, excellent article Michaela. 🙂
My happy place is definitely my room, where all of my books are, where my PC is, music, basically everything I need to relax, and separate myself from the outside noise. Also, it is turned towards west, so every late-afternoon I have the chance to see beautiful sunsets combined with amazing cloud formations! 🙂 This is the place where I feel safest, it is here where I can fully relax and protect myself from the external world. I go there as much as I can, sometimes on a daily basis, sometimes not so much. But I always try to be there every-time I feel drained, and needing to gather my strength. In the past I did feel guilty, but now, never. I understood that I need that place in my life, it gives me that special time, where my writing and creativity can blossom to full effect. I call it my “Green Fortress” 😀
That’s an interesting question, Michaela! Where is my happy place?
My happy place is a place where time stands still. This can be anywhere. Most of the time I find this place outdoors. It even doesn’t have to be in nature. Once my thoughts are drifted away, I don’t hear all the cars rushing by. And if I’m drifting too far, I trust the driver to hit the brake.
To find my happy place, I don’t have to be alone either. Happiness can be found outside your head too. As long as you are with the right people. Once a week I go drink one or two (ok, four or five) beer with two coworkers, who overtime became two of my closest friends. But last week, I really didn’t have the time. One, quick, because you insist, but then I have to go. It turned out a little different, and I got home about 2.5 hours later as intented. No time to do the things I had to do. Yet, I didn’t feel guilty. I felt happy. I had a little quality time with people who are very close to me. I stayed there because I wanted it, and I did it.
The picture above with the obligations reminds me of it. I like that picture. I guess happiness comes to whoever is able to remain seated on that bench because they want to sit on it, just like that figure above. This has nothing to do with the ‘phisical’ place. Like you say, happiness is a state of mind. Do what you feel like doing. Anywhere. Any time. This way any place can be your happy place. Your room or a soccer stadium. A forest or a festival. After all, life’s what you make it.
Quite room, snack, phone, and WiFi. pretty much like the first picture. But quite room is a must (at least for me).