Is something holding you back from happiness? Is it someone, something or a little bit of both? What would make you truly happy?
I know that’s a lot of questions to think about and the answer is different for every one. For some, it may be found in a career, partner in life, family, child, or a beautiful day.
For others, happiness may be harder to find.
With life comes change- change of career, friendships, relationships etc, which can disrupt our ideal image of happiness.
What is your image of happiness?
The truth is that happiness starts and ends with someone you have known for a long time…YOU. Yes, YOU!
We can go to the ends of the Earth for someone, provide them with everything they want and need, but truth be told…the only thing we cannot do is create happiness for someone.
True undeniable happiness can only be found within ourselves.
We live in a fast-paced world driven by instant gratification and digital acceptance. We have replaced creating true and lifelong friendships with facebook friends. We have replaced people liking us for who we are with the “double tap” of a staged image we post on Instagram.
We have replaced engaging in true and meaningful face-to-face conversation with comments on images and statuses we posts. We have lowered ourselves to thinking that someone opening our snapchat is opening the door to finding true love and life-long commitment.
Sounds wild when you put this in writing, right? How did we get to this point? Do you see where I am getting at here? How can we find happiness when we live in a world of virtual acceptance?
We have lost sight of the starting point, the one place that is most obvious, OURSELVES.
Somewhere along the way, this idea that major life changes must occur in order to find happiness became the new “norm”.
What’s my take on it?
Start small.
Whether it be channeling energy into a new hobby, going for a daily walk or meeting up with an old friend.
Start small.
I am a firm believer that small action reaps great reward.
Happiness isn’t something you find overnight. You can and will come across things and people, daily, that make you happy, but if you are not happy within yourself, how will you hold onto these things or people?
How can you be a positive asset to those around you are not your best?
While I was in undergrad, one of my professors said something so obvious and profound that has stuck with me for many years.
“How can you expect to take care of those around you when you are not taking care of yourself”? You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Don’t feel selfish for taking time to find happiness within yourself. Don’t feel selfish for putting off plans, taking a day off or telling someone no. No one knows your journey except you and those who love and know you will be there with you every step of the way.
Find people who are encouraging you and pushing you to be your best. Find people who willing to lend a helping hand when you are not your best. Find these people and hold onto them real tight.
The road to happiness does not have an ending, but it does have a beginning…starting with YOU.