Today, we’re going to take a gentle detour from the usual Stoic stance on “indifferents” and instead embrace a moment of pure positivity. Consider this a restorative pause—a chance to feel good without reservation. While Stoicism often teaches us to remain steady and not overly influenced by externals, here we’ll intentionally dwell on happiness and all that uplifts our spirits. Think of it as tending to the garden of your mind, allowing vibrant flowers of joy to bloom and refresh your outlook.

Find a comfortable position, either seated or lying down. Close your eyes and take a deep breath Give yourself permission to set aside worries, responsibilities, and judgments—just for a few moments.

As you settle into stillness, picture yourself in a place that naturally evokes happiness. It could be a sunlit meadow filled with wildflowers, the gentle laughter of friends around a table, the comforting scent of home, or a moment when you felt fully embraced by life’s beauty. Let this image form clearly in your mind. Notice the details: the colors, the smells, the textures, the soft warmth of the light.

Breathe deeply, and as you inhale, draw in the feeling of happiness that this place stirs within you. With each exhalation, imagine releasing any heaviness or concern that prevents you from enjoying this happiness wholeheartedly.

Allow yourself to experience this happiness as something immediate and tangible—here and now. Smile softly, feeling how even a subtle curve of your lips can influence your emotions. Let the simple act of smiling affirm that it’s okay to be hap py, to celebrate this feeling, and to welcome it into your heart without hesitation.

Just as in Stoicism we learn that external things don’t have to move us, remember that you can also choose to cultivate uplifting emotions from within. In this moment, the beauty of your chosen memory or imagined scenario doesn’t need to rely on chance or circumstance. You’re creating it, sustaining it, and allowing it to nourish your soul.

So, let yourself savor this moment. Imagine happiness as a gentle glow that you can brighten at will, simply by turning your attention towards it. Notice the warmth it brings, the subtle smile it draws onto your face, the ease that softens your body. Right now, you don’t need permission, a reason, or perfect conditions to feel happy. You’re doing it—crafting this feeling from the quiet power of your own mind. Bask in it. Let it grow and radiate. This happiness is yours, here and now.

Take a few more breaths, enriching this happiness with each inhale, letting it settle with each exhale. Feel this brightness flowing through you, filling every corner of your being with a gentle radiance. Remind yourself that even when life is complex or challenging, moments of happiness are still available, waiting for your attention and care.

When you are ready, begin to guide your awareness back to the present, carrying this sense of happiness with you. Feel the surface beneath your body, the breath in your lungs, the air on your skin. Open your eyes slowly, allowing the room to come into focus, and notice if the world looks a bit gentler, a bit lighter, now that you’ve tapped into this joyful state.

As you go forth, hold onto this feeling like a warm ember in your chest, knowing you can return to it at any time. Happiness need not be postponed; it can be embraced right now, exactly as you are.