Someone could argue this point, but in my experience relief is often a much nicer emotion than feeling pleasure or even joy. In fact, I now have a deep appreciation for relief, and sometimes it is my only friend.

Making Life Harder Than it Has to Be

We all make our lives so much harder than they have to be. Some days life feels like you are swimming uphill and making no headway. Other times it is downright painful and feels like a constant struggle, fighting just to survive the day.

When you are in physical or mental discomfort, even a tiny bit of movement towards something better can have you sighing with relief. Relief feels like a pressure lifted, the sky parting with the sun shining and the birds chirping. It feels lovely, even if it just the cessation of a headache or resolving an argument. It almost feels better than pure pleasure, like turning the corner towards improvement.

How Do You Get There From Here

Ok, so you are having a miserable day, suffering it out and just wanting it to be over. How do you get that little feeling of relief? You go looking for it. There are plenty of ways in which you can turn that day, that week or even that month into something better.

Take a few minutes to focus hard on the things that are going well in your life. Don’t put it off, this is important. Gratitude instantly generates relief. The more you sit in appreciation for the things you love and things that make you happy, the better you are going to feel, NO MATTER WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE.

A Better Feeling Thought Brings Instant Relief

You can reach for that feeling of relief anytime, even if it is just a slightly better thought about something.

Say you owe a bill that you cannot pay. Instead of letting fear fill you with dread and anxiety, switch that over to something slightly better “the bill isn’t due yet, and I have time to find a way to get the money.” See how that lightens the fear a bit?

Reaching for a better feeling thought works in any situation, where you shift the negativity into a slight positive and fill yourself with a bit of relief. It feels like fresh air!

Relief is My New Best Friend

Those of us tripping down the path of spiritual enlightenment often hit walls of discouragement and feel that we “should do better.” So instead of beating myself up when I am not where I would like to be, I reach for relief instead of trying to force myself into a state of happiness. Sometimes relief feels easier to attain, and it’s a hop, skip and a jump away from joy anyway.

So let relief be your gateway drug to more happiness, more joy, and freedom from the daily pressures of life and interactions with others. From there it’s only a slight turn to feeling wonderful again.