Business Insider has a few interesting tips for being happier at work, from finding meaning in what you do to taking your time and stressing less. Some pretty useful stuff!
I'd like to add a few of my own:
1. Have a little treat at work
In my office there is frequent cake. We even have a dedicated "cake table" where we put biscuits, chocolate, and other assorted goodies, including pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and our Christmas feast. It breaks up the day and gives people something to look forward too - a bit of a boost.
2. ...But not too many treats!
I try to abstain on occasion because if I indulged every time I'd just feel guilty, and I do like to sort of pretend I'm watching my weight a little bit.
3. Sit comfortably
Chairs matter. Bad posture is why I go for massages. Massages are happy; good chairs and sitting up straight are happy, too.
4. Considering priorities
Not just your own priorities, but other people's. This is helpful if you're a bit impatient like I am and want everything to be done immediately. Other people's priorities are different to yours. It's just a good thing to bear in mind when you need stuff to be done - they might have something higher up on their list even if the task in question is the first thing on yours.
5. Be yourself
For me at least, it can be hard to find work clothes I feel comfortable in. I just don't feel like myself if I'm not in jeans and hoodies or t-shirts. But I bought a couple of new tops the other day that I could wear at work or at home - I wore one for work today and kept it on once I got home. I'm still wearing it now; if I don't throw it off as soon as I walk through the door, it's definitely a feel-good top. And I feel happier when I feel like myself and not restricted or having to wear things I don't like.
Showing posts with label how-to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how-to. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Be pro-active
Sometimes we feel unhappy for a while without really addressing our problems or even knowing why. I like to take a practical approach, through writing. If you're happy to write, try making a list of things that you think would make you happy. It might not be a very long list, which is great! But what you think would make you happier might be something big, like a new job. Once you've identified what you want and written it down, you can take steps to getting it, by breaking it down into actions to take and goals to meet. If we feel like we're in control and are actively trying to make a change, that can make all the difference.
In this way, we can also see if the things we think we want will really make us happy. Sometimes we pin all our hopes on something that just won't deliver. More on that tomorrow!
In this way, we can also see if the things we think we want will really make us happy. Sometimes we pin all our hopes on something that just won't deliver. More on that tomorrow!
Friday, 14 March 2014
There is always a choice
I believe that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, no matter what difficult predicament, we always have a choice of what we do.
Even if the choice is to either do something anyone would do without hesitation, there is always the option of doing something unthinkable, detrimental to our best interests, or even dangerous. We always have the option to make that decision.
The next time you feel powerless, think about all the things that you could do but would never consider, like running away, for example. Take comfort in knowing you do make some choices, no matter how small or seemingly obvious.
Even if the choice is to either do something anyone would do without hesitation, there is always the option of doing something unthinkable, detrimental to our best interests, or even dangerous. We always have the option to make that decision.
The next time you feel powerless, think about all the things that you could do but would never consider, like running away, for example. Take comfort in knowing you do make some choices, no matter how small or seemingly obvious.
Friday, 7 March 2014
Give up complaining for Lent
Lent started on Wednesday, and if you're not sure what Lent is, it's the 40 days before Easter when Christians give something up to commemorate when Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting in the desert while being tempted by the devil.
The immediate reaction sometimes is to give up food you like such as chocolate or fast food, or alcohol, or some kind of activity. But why not give up something more meaningful this time? Some people give up negativity and dishonesty, which is a great idea. Why not try giving up complaining for 40 days? Or something similarly negative like arguing, or even negative thoughts - push them aside and replace them with positive ones, rather than indulging in and expressing them.
I know it's a bit late to start now, but do we really need a specific date in the calendar to prompt us to make a change? If you're really good at giving up the bad stuff, you might even be able to continue it past 17th April. Good luck!
The immediate reaction sometimes is to give up food you like such as chocolate or fast food, or alcohol, or some kind of activity. But why not give up something more meaningful this time? Some people give up negativity and dishonesty, which is a great idea. Why not try giving up complaining for 40 days? Or something similarly negative like arguing, or even negative thoughts - push them aside and replace them with positive ones, rather than indulging in and expressing them.
I know it's a bit late to start now, but do we really need a specific date in the calendar to prompt us to make a change? If you're really good at giving up the bad stuff, you might even be able to continue it past 17th April. Good luck!
Thursday, 6 March 2014
It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks
The next time you find yourself worrying about what other people think of you, whether it's your appearance, your decisions, or anything else, just ask yourself this:
Why does it matter? Really try to think deeply about it.
You may well find it doesn't seem to matter at all, and that can be liberating.
What impact does another person's opinion of you have on you - especially if they don't express it and you're just guessing what they think? Don't let it take hold.
This is just another way of questioning your thoughts. You don't have to accept your worries as they are. Challenge them. How else are you going to make a change for the better?
Why does it matter? Really try to think deeply about it.
You may well find it doesn't seem to matter at all, and that can be liberating.
What impact does another person's opinion of you have on you - especially if they don't express it and you're just guessing what they think? Don't let it take hold.
This is just another way of questioning your thoughts. You don't have to accept your worries as they are. Challenge them. How else are you going to make a change for the better?
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Choosing to be happy
Ever say anything like "you make me so angry", "that's going to annoy me", or even "I can't help the way I feel"?
That last one isn't entirely true, though we tend to assume it is.
The first one kind of sounds like you're blaming someone else for your unhappiness, and the second one sounds like you're planning on getting annoyed later!
But you can catch these thoughts, and question them, and just by doing that you're halfway to making that last sentence a complete myth - you can help the way you feel.
Next time you think or say "you make me angry", or any other negative emotion, stop yourself. It's as if you're allowing that person to make you feel bad, isn't it? Don't let them.
Next time you think or say "that's going to annoy me", remind yourself that you don't actually want to schedule annoyance and irritation into your day. Whatever the annoying thing is, it's not going to stick around forever, and it might not be as bad as you expect.
And when you say you can't help the way you feel, question it. Try to prove yourself wrong.
I'm not saying that you should never feel angry, or annoyed, or upset. It's okay to feel negative emotions. It's a problem if you get attached to them. More on that later. The main thing here is that you can choose to be happy. It's in your control, and you are the only person who can truly dictate your emotions. That's really how to be happy. You have to do it yourself.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
That last one isn't entirely true, though we tend to assume it is.
The first one kind of sounds like you're blaming someone else for your unhappiness, and the second one sounds like you're planning on getting annoyed later!
But you can catch these thoughts, and question them, and just by doing that you're halfway to making that last sentence a complete myth - you can help the way you feel.
Next time you think or say "you make me angry", or any other negative emotion, stop yourself. It's as if you're allowing that person to make you feel bad, isn't it? Don't let them.
Next time you think or say "that's going to annoy me", remind yourself that you don't actually want to schedule annoyance and irritation into your day. Whatever the annoying thing is, it's not going to stick around forever, and it might not be as bad as you expect.
And when you say you can't help the way you feel, question it. Try to prove yourself wrong.
I'm not saying that you should never feel angry, or annoyed, or upset. It's okay to feel negative emotions. It's a problem if you get attached to them. More on that later. The main thing here is that you can choose to be happy. It's in your control, and you are the only person who can truly dictate your emotions. That's really how to be happy. You have to do it yourself.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Life is pretty simple
Do what makes you happy.
If something isn't going to make you happy, don't do it.
If you think it will make you happy, do it.
There really is nothing else.
If something isn't going to make you happy, don't do it.
If you think it will make you happy, do it.
There really is nothing else.
Sunday, 23 February 2014
One step at a time
I have a 40 minute commute to work every day from my boyfriend's house, and while I could go straight from our town to the town my work is in, I instead take a different route (which is near enough the same distance) from our town, to the town where my parents live, to the town I work in. I quite like it because it feels like my journey is split into two or three different parts, and I know the route so well from long before I started working where I do.
But sometimes when I'm still in the first town and moving towards the second, I think about the fact that I still have quite a way to drive before I get to work, and the thought of the distance left makes me groan inwardly a bit. So I try not to think about it and banish the thought from my mind.
And I think you can apply that to anything that takes ages, or is routine, or you can't be bothered to do. Because thinking about what you have to do next triggers an "ugh" reaction. Stay in the moment and concentrate on what you're doing right now, and you're more likely to be an ugh-free zone.
But sometimes when I'm still in the first town and moving towards the second, I think about the fact that I still have quite a way to drive before I get to work, and the thought of the distance left makes me groan inwardly a bit. So I try not to think about it and banish the thought from my mind.
And I think you can apply that to anything that takes ages, or is routine, or you can't be bothered to do. Because thinking about what you have to do next triggers an "ugh" reaction. Stay in the moment and concentrate on what you're doing right now, and you're more likely to be an ugh-free zone.
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Treat yourself on a Monday
I love having things to look forward to. Whether it's a holiday, my favourite food, or watching my favourite TV show at the end of the day.
That's why I think it's a good idea to spread out your treats, so you have something to look forward to often, even if it's something small. Instead of having that chocolate on a Friday, have it on a Monday. Because Fridays are already great - what's Monday got going for it? Make Mondays chocolate day (or whatever you fancy), and you'll have at least two things every week to look forward to. Win!
That's why I think it's a good idea to spread out your treats, so you have something to look forward to often, even if it's something small. Instead of having that chocolate on a Friday, have it on a Monday. Because Fridays are already great - what's Monday got going for it? Make Mondays chocolate day (or whatever you fancy), and you'll have at least two things every week to look forward to. Win!
Monday, 17 February 2014
Your eighty year old self
When you're eighty (or if you happen to be eighty now, when you're ninety), how will you feel when you think back to the way things are for you now? Will you be proud of the person you are? Will you be happy about the choices you have made?
Imagine being eighty (or ninety, or one hundred) and someone asks you what life was like when you were the age you are now. What do you want to be able to say in response? What would your ideal reply be, and does that match up to what you would say, the way things are now? Here's my example:
Someone else: What were you like when you were 26, what was going on?
Me at 80 (the truth as it is now): Well, I was half living at my parents' house and half living with my boyfriend of seven years. Me and my boyfriend were really happy. I was working in a role that was really new to me, and I had a lot of good things planned - some holidays, some gigs - with a mind to get married and start a family within the next few years.
Me at 80 (what I would like to be able to say): Well, I was living with my boyfriend of seven years - I had just moved in and we were really happy (and still are now that we have been married for over 50 years!) I had settled into my new role at work, and had a lot of good things planned - some holidays, some gigs - with a mind to get married and start a family within the next few years.
Luckily for me there isn't much I would need to change to be able to say what I want to be able to say if I were asked the question at 80. And I know those things I would like to be true will become true in due course, and if that were to not be the case, I would do everything I could to make it so.
So the question is, what tales do you want to be able to tell when you're older? What do you want to be able to say to your grandchildren? Start making it happen today.
Luckily for me there isn't much I would need to change to be able to say what I want to be able to say if I were asked the question at 80. And I know those things I would like to be true will become true in due course, and if that were to not be the case, I would do everything I could to make it so.
So the question is, what tales do you want to be able to tell when you're older? What do you want to be able to say to your grandchildren? Start making it happen today.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Stop saying if and start saying when
I have a bucket list. Some things I've ticked off it are visiting New York (and seeing several of the sights there), doing a firewalk, getting a fish pedicure, and toasting marshmallows. Things I'm yet to tick off are climbing The O2, seeing Slipknot live, going to gay pride, and learning to speak Swedish fluently, among many others!
The reason I started a bucketlist is that I had a health problem a few years ago (which we don't need to go into really for the purposes of this blog post), and after that I felt the need to do exciting and interesting things, and make proper plans for doing them. Whether it's through a new perspective, fear of said health problem coming back, or some other complicated feeling, I don't like saying "someday" anymore. Someday isn't good enough for me now.
So when I decide I want to do something, I want to either do it immediately, or if that's not possible, try to make a commitment to do it at a particular time. Make plans. I've always been a bit of an impatient person anyway, feeling the urge to do something right away once I decide that's what should be done, but I feel that way even more so nowadays.
"Someday" doesn't get things done. "Someday" can sometimes mean never. It can mean just not getting around to things, and with life being what it is, so unpredictable, that's not good enough. So stop saying "if" and start saying "when". Nothing needs to be set in stone, but instead of saying "If I ever make it to Las Vegas", say "When I go to Las Vegas", and have a time in mind - whether it's this time next year, when the kids are a bit older, when you get that promotion... whatever you see fit to plan towards. Because if you don't, you might never get to do that thing you really want to experience, and that's why to me, phrases like "if", "someday", "hopefully", and "at some point" just aren't good enough.
Here's my bucketlist, and here's where you can make your own.
The reason I started a bucketlist is that I had a health problem a few years ago (which we don't need to go into really for the purposes of this blog post), and after that I felt the need to do exciting and interesting things, and make proper plans for doing them. Whether it's through a new perspective, fear of said health problem coming back, or some other complicated feeling, I don't like saying "someday" anymore. Someday isn't good enough for me now.
So when I decide I want to do something, I want to either do it immediately, or if that's not possible, try to make a commitment to do it at a particular time. Make plans. I've always been a bit of an impatient person anyway, feeling the urge to do something right away once I decide that's what should be done, but I feel that way even more so nowadays.
"Someday" doesn't get things done. "Someday" can sometimes mean never. It can mean just not getting around to things, and with life being what it is, so unpredictable, that's not good enough. So stop saying "if" and start saying "when". Nothing needs to be set in stone, but instead of saying "If I ever make it to Las Vegas", say "When I go to Las Vegas", and have a time in mind - whether it's this time next year, when the kids are a bit older, when you get that promotion... whatever you see fit to plan towards. Because if you don't, you might never get to do that thing you really want to experience, and that's why to me, phrases like "if", "someday", "hopefully", and "at some point" just aren't good enough.
Here's my bucketlist, and here's where you can make your own.
Saturday, 15 February 2014
Complaining vs. Consideration
I was going to write a blog post about this, but I see Danielle Laporte has beaten me to it! Her article here basically says what I wanted to say: that before you get annoyed, irritated, angry or upset with a person and their actions, consider why they are doing what they are doing or acting that way, and if you don't know, then, well you just don't know. I recall a while ago someone was complaining about another person's actions, and then upon hearing that person's story, saying "oh, I didn't know..." Well exactly, you didn't know - all the more reason to think twice before making judgements.
I was thinking about this topic today because I was driving to my parents' house from my boyfriend's (I currently seem to be occupying two homes!) and I was behind a particularly slow driver going at quite a few miles below the speed limit. But I am trying to make a habit of being more chilled out about things like that, especially because I wasn't in a rush, so instead of getting frustrated by the slow speed I had to drive at, I instead thought about why the driver was going so slowly - maybe they were nervous, had only just learnt to drive and had just passed their test, were elderly, or made nervous by the windy weather, or a myriad of other factors - I just didn't know.
So I didn't get annoyed, I just wondered, and that made me think about how other people aren't just strangers, but similarly to me, humans with a rich, colourful tapestry of story behind them... which sounds like a very obvious thing to say, but sometimes we don't think about that - I'm not the only one, right? Sometimes other people seem 2D in our minds, and we don't consider anything deeper than what we can see.
I think taking a detour to the question "Why?" instead of navigating straight to annoyedsville is a great strategy to practice for better consideration and peace of mind. Besides, in this case, driving a bit slower than you'd prefer is nothing to get stressed about. Namaste!
I was thinking about this topic today because I was driving to my parents' house from my boyfriend's (I currently seem to be occupying two homes!) and I was behind a particularly slow driver going at quite a few miles below the speed limit. But I am trying to make a habit of being more chilled out about things like that, especially because I wasn't in a rush, so instead of getting frustrated by the slow speed I had to drive at, I instead thought about why the driver was going so slowly - maybe they were nervous, had only just learnt to drive and had just passed their test, were elderly, or made nervous by the windy weather, or a myriad of other factors - I just didn't know.
So I didn't get annoyed, I just wondered, and that made me think about how other people aren't just strangers, but similarly to me, humans with a rich, colourful tapestry of story behind them... which sounds like a very obvious thing to say, but sometimes we don't think about that - I'm not the only one, right? Sometimes other people seem 2D in our minds, and we don't consider anything deeper than what we can see.
I think taking a detour to the question "Why?" instead of navigating straight to annoyedsville is a great strategy to practice for better consideration and peace of mind. Besides, in this case, driving a bit slower than you'd prefer is nothing to get stressed about. Namaste!
Monday, 10 February 2014
How do you want to feel?
I came across a good question today:
Well? I guess the idea is to identify how you want to feel and take steps to changing things so that you can feel that way more. Because you can't change things for the better unless you know what you want to accomplish!
I would like to experience more excitement, which is why I have lots of trips planned for this year - a couple of gigs, mine and my partner's first holiday abroad together, and hopefully gay pride in Brighton in the summer. It's also the reason why I did a firewalk last October, but more on that in a different blog post. I just love to do new things and have lots of things to look forward to!
I would also like to experience less worry about certain things and feel more relaxed about them. And the way I can do that is by...
Well, I think I'm going to have to put a bit more thought into that! But it's a start, right? What would you like to feel more often?
Well? I guess the idea is to identify how you want to feel and take steps to changing things so that you can feel that way more. Because you can't change things for the better unless you know what you want to accomplish!
I would like to experience more excitement, which is why I have lots of trips planned for this year - a couple of gigs, mine and my partner's first holiday abroad together, and hopefully gay pride in Brighton in the summer. It's also the reason why I did a firewalk last October, but more on that in a different blog post. I just love to do new things and have lots of things to look forward to!
I would also like to experience less worry about certain things and feel more relaxed about them. And the way I can do that is by...
Well, I think I'm going to have to put a bit more thought into that! But it's a start, right? What would you like to feel more often?
Sunday, 9 February 2014
100 Happy Days
A new challenge has arisen in the form of http://100happydays.com. I haven't tried this yet but it sounds like a pretty cool idea - for 100 days, take a picture of something that made you happy that day. It sounds like a great way to get into the habit of being happy, of finding things to be grateful for. Think of it as training yourself to be happy - happiness just takes practice, and as soon as we start looking for it, the sooner we'll find it and the easier it will be to see. Or at least, that's my theory!
So what made you happy today? This might be a difficult question if you haven't had a very good day, but if you think hard enough you may be able to find something, even if it's just getting home or into bed at the end of it all. Even if you don't take the 100 Happy Days challenge, take a little time at the end of each day to think about something good that happened. If you write it down, that's even better as you'll have a reminder of good things to read if you're feeling down.
You may find you've actually had a lot to be happy about some days, and struggle to pick just one thing to write down or take a picture of!
So what made you happy today? This might be a difficult question if you haven't had a very good day, but if you think hard enough you may be able to find something, even if it's just getting home or into bed at the end of it all. Even if you don't take the 100 Happy Days challenge, take a little time at the end of each day to think about something good that happened. If you write it down, that's even better as you'll have a reminder of good things to read if you're feeling down.
You may find you've actually had a lot to be happy about some days, and struggle to pick just one thing to write down or take a picture of!
Wednesday, 5 February 2014
A Happy Place
When I lived in my previous house, I enjoyed walking down to the bottom of my estate and down a footpath over a little stream and past a field with horses in. It was quiet and peaceful, and I used to walk down by myself, listening to music and just generally having some me time and a chance to think about things and relax. I called it my happy place.
We lived there for six years before we moved, and we've been in our current house for over a year. I was worried when we moved - aside from loving our house, I loved the area and worried about missing my "happy place" and having nowhere I would hold in the same regard.
Which made me wonder, do we really need an external happy place, in the outside world? Shouldn't we be able to create our own "happy place" inside our minds? If we rely on external things to make us happy, well, as my house move demonstrated, those things won't be in reach forever, so it's a safer bet to rely on your own mind instead.
If you need to go to a happy place, close your eyes and imagine it. Or, just close your eyes and imagine nothing. Call it meditation, call it simply taking a breather - if you adopt this technique, you can access peace as long as you have your brain with you. Which we all hopefully do, the majority of the time! Namaste.
(The above picture was taken in Jersey, which I wish was close enough to have been my happy place!)
We lived there for six years before we moved, and we've been in our current house for over a year. I was worried when we moved - aside from loving our house, I loved the area and worried about missing my "happy place" and having nowhere I would hold in the same regard.
Which made me wonder, do we really need an external happy place, in the outside world? Shouldn't we be able to create our own "happy place" inside our minds? If we rely on external things to make us happy, well, as my house move demonstrated, those things won't be in reach forever, so it's a safer bet to rely on your own mind instead.
If you need to go to a happy place, close your eyes and imagine it. Or, just close your eyes and imagine nothing. Call it meditation, call it simply taking a breather - if you adopt this technique, you can access peace as long as you have your brain with you. Which we all hopefully do, the majority of the time! Namaste.
(The above picture was taken in Jersey, which I wish was close enough to have been my happy place!)
Monday, 3 February 2014
Remember to be happy
This may sound really silly and obvious, but if you want to be happy, you need to remember to be happy.
We can get so wrapped up in life - in work and careers, in our daily monotony, and countless other things that we have to deal with - that we don't often stop and think "am I happy?"
We should question these things more. I love Buddhism, and you'll see a lot of that in this blog, and the reason I love it is because instead of just saying "this is what's true, and you should believe it because I've said it", Buddha encouraged people to think for themselves, to take teachings and decide whether or not they thought them to be correct and applicable to their own lives and understanding. I think that also applies here - don't just go through the motions and accept life as it is - ask yourself the question. Are you happy? And if not, why not?
Analyse. What would make you feel happier? If you're in a job you don't like, change it. If you aren't happy in your relationship, try to improve it. Don't settle for your current career just because "everyone hates their job". For one thing, that's not true. Just because it may be difficult to make a positive change, doesn't mean it's impossible. Sure, people don't tend to like working, but that doesn't mean you should just not bother looking for something else if you're not happy. Don't settle, and don't give up. Make a positive change. Namaste.
We can get so wrapped up in life - in work and careers, in our daily monotony, and countless other things that we have to deal with - that we don't often stop and think "am I happy?"
We should question these things more. I love Buddhism, and you'll see a lot of that in this blog, and the reason I love it is because instead of just saying "this is what's true, and you should believe it because I've said it", Buddha encouraged people to think for themselves, to take teachings and decide whether or not they thought them to be correct and applicable to their own lives and understanding. I think that also applies here - don't just go through the motions and accept life as it is - ask yourself the question. Are you happy? And if not, why not?
Analyse. What would make you feel happier? If you're in a job you don't like, change it. If you aren't happy in your relationship, try to improve it. Don't settle for your current career just because "everyone hates their job". For one thing, that's not true. Just because it may be difficult to make a positive change, doesn't mean it's impossible. Sure, people don't tend to like working, but that doesn't mean you should just not bother looking for something else if you're not happy. Don't settle, and don't give up. Make a positive change. Namaste.
Saturday, 1 February 2014
"I'll be happy when this is over"
Hello! Welcome to my blog, all about happiness - how we can attain it, what makes us happy, having a calm and peaceful mind, and hopefully some inspiration.
I thought I'd start with a post about something that has been on my mind lately - have you ever said or heard anyone else say "I'll be happy when this is over"? I've caught myself thinking it a few times, and I've realised it's a bit of a weird thing to say, isn't it? I mean, the way it's phrased makes it sound like a choice - "I'm not happy now, but rather than try to change it, I refuse to be happy until after this particular event". There is definitely an argument for happiness being a choice rather than not, but more on that later. It just seems like a strange thing to say - "I'll be happy when this is over".
The last couple of times I've caught myself saying it I've thought to myself "well, why not be happy now?" Sometimes I say it because something unpleasant is about to happen, but maybe it hasn't actually happened yet. So I think to myself, am I not happy right now, right in this moment? Sitting here on this chair, just thinking about things that are going to happen but are not directly affecting me right now? Am I in pain or uncomfortable? Is something unpleasant happening right at this very moment? If not, I try to hold on to that thought, and think about being in the moment. This is called being mindful - more on that later, too.
I know just telling yourself not to be unhappy or worry is not as easy as it sounds. But as with all things, it will get easier with practice. And if the answer to the question "is something unpleasant happening right at this very moment?" is yes, well, just know you can ride it out. Nothing lasts forever. Stay positive. Namaste.
I thought I'd start with a post about something that has been on my mind lately - have you ever said or heard anyone else say "I'll be happy when this is over"? I've caught myself thinking it a few times, and I've realised it's a bit of a weird thing to say, isn't it? I mean, the way it's phrased makes it sound like a choice - "I'm not happy now, but rather than try to change it, I refuse to be happy until after this particular event". There is definitely an argument for happiness being a choice rather than not, but more on that later. It just seems like a strange thing to say - "I'll be happy when this is over".
The last couple of times I've caught myself saying it I've thought to myself "well, why not be happy now?" Sometimes I say it because something unpleasant is about to happen, but maybe it hasn't actually happened yet. So I think to myself, am I not happy right now, right in this moment? Sitting here on this chair, just thinking about things that are going to happen but are not directly affecting me right now? Am I in pain or uncomfortable? Is something unpleasant happening right at this very moment? If not, I try to hold on to that thought, and think about being in the moment. This is called being mindful - more on that later, too.
I know just telling yourself not to be unhappy or worry is not as easy as it sounds. But as with all things, it will get easier with practice. And if the answer to the question "is something unpleasant happening right at this very moment?" is yes, well, just know you can ride it out. Nothing lasts forever. Stay positive. Namaste.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)