So far, I’m learning that we live in a world where getting what you want is simple. Not easy, but simple. I could find 10 books right now written by credentialed experts on how to do whatever it is I might want to do with my life. Any goal you can think of is out there (build a pinhole camera, work on a relationship, lose weight, start a business…). Forget books, you could google it and find 1,000 different step-by-step guides on how people are already doing whatever it is that you want to do, right this second. There are free tools, resources, contacts… all of it right at your fingertips, so why don’t we all have exactly what we want out of life?
“Life is about being alive, so why use a word as flimsy as fine?” – Mel Robbins
I’m learning that by automatically saying that you’re fine you don’t have to do anything about fixing what’s flawed in your life. Furthermore, you aren’t just saying, “I’m fine” to the world, you’re saying it to yourself. “I’m not 100% happy with this, but there’s nothing I can do about it so whatever. It’s fine. I’m fine.” That thing that you want out of life? Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you’re fine just not having it, and something inside of you has given up a little bit.
I’m learning that when I feel stuck in life there are essential needs that aren’t being met. Basic, physiological needs can throw everything off, so it’s really important to meet nutritional goals and take care of my body. Relationships make a big difference to how happy I feel, so it’s important to take care of my friends, family, and partner. It’s really important to take care of intellectual needs. I’ve learned that I’m happiest when I focus on learning something new every day, and challenge what I already know. Most of all though, I’m learning that I’m much happier overall when I embrace a little uncertainty, and push a little a little further each day past my comfort zone. (Turns out, there are tons of scientific and spiritual research that already exists for what I’m feeling, and that’s what my Lifestyle is.)
Basically, I’m setting time aside each day to focus on happiness. Life can be chaotic and stressful. As I write this right now actually my car is in the shop (again). Bills need to be paid. Bad things happen to good people, often people that we love very much. Tragedy is in your neighborhood and on the news. Every. Single. Day…
But I’m learning that day-to-day energy is finite, and I’ve found that by putting too much of my attention to negativity I run out of time and space for happiness. They say it takes more energy to frown than smile? I think the same is true for discouraging thoughts. They are exhausting, and on hard days I often find myself just wanting to go to bed early, feeling depleted of all energy.
I’m learning how to set my intentions to get what I want out of life, instead of letting it pass me by.
greenifer 