Are you kidding me? There are tricks to live life to the fullest? There might be a hesitation to believe this due to feeling depressed or hopeless over time. You may feel nothing will work. If that is the thought pattern, then we have a lot of work to do. Thoughts will pop into the mind continuously through the day, and most of them will not be beneficial. If the average number of thoughts we have per day is 70,000, with an estimated 3,000 thoughts per hour, no wonder there is a battle to keep joy flowing. We can be realistic that we can’t capture all the negative (thoughts, events, or circumstances) in a day and discard it so easy, but in the process we can thrive by making small changes. American comedian Groucho Marx once said we have the power, and we do. Use what you have to overcome and live life to the fullest. “Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” Make today a new beginning.
Find the Good
Take on the good and start collecting what is working in life. What makes you happy? This doesn’t need to be associated with money. We are looking at the small things in life. Like enjoying nature, family, friends, or a favorite hobby. It can be preparing your favorite meal today. We tend to live in the past or the future, not the present. This leads us to unwarranted anxiety and unhappiness. Ken Keyes wrote the 4th Pathway published in 1972, and shared how we can reach peace in our lives no matter what we face. One of his points was to live in the now and to not get wrapped up in things that can’t be controlled. "By fully tuning in to the now moment in your life, you will discover that you always have enough to enjoy every moment of your life. The only reason you have not been happy every instant is that you have been dominating your consciousness with thoughts about something you don’t have–or trying to hold on to something that you do have but which is no longer appropriate in the present flow of your life.” Enjoy the small things in life today, not tomorrow.
Travel
Change the location of where you are. Sometimes we need to just shutdown electronics, stop receiving emails, and get out of the environment. This can be a small or bigger trip. Changing the environment can also change our perspective. Be it a park, a new town, or country. Just go somewhere where the reset button can be used. Traveling is therapeutic, and can help with getting out of your rut. It can lead to happiness, and gives a sense of accomplishment as well. The Huffington Post agreed with theory. “There comes a time when everyone must deal with an unexpected situation when they’re on the road. Even if you plan your trip to the letter, things can take a surprise turn. Whatever happens, there is a way around the problem and knowing that you can deal with these situations is a big boost to self-confidence and therefore your happiness.” Remember it can just be a few hours spending time in another town, not Paris.
Help Others
Be a giver if you want to be happy! Don’t believe me? There are studies now to back the science of giving, and yes, we mean giving money as well. Giving will put a smile on your face more than the temporary satisfaction of spending it on yourself Harvard Business School found. “Money may not buy you love but it might buy you happiness if you spend it in the right way,” Michael Norton, a professor and researcher said regarding the study. “In studies they found that the old adage "it's better to give than to receive" is correct: spending money on others or giving to charity puts a bigger smile on your face than buying things for yourself.” Another report by Medical Daily reported that people who volunteered received a euphoric feeling afterwards, like a runner’s high after volunteering and giving. People also saw their overall health improve.
Find a New Vision
Start dreaming again. People need hope to keep them going. If something is not working anymore, move on. You can make a list of goals you need to accomplish, and start new. Stale and missed goals will lead to depression. If the door is not opening, find a window. When a window won’t open, move forward find another avenue to reach your dreams. It could be time to let it totally go. Also, during days where everything just stinks, start affirming yourself. Keep a box or book of affirmations nearby when the blahs hit. Say affirmations loud and in a clear voice. We have to be our biggest fans as we can’t keep going to people to feel good about ourselves. Try something like "I have favor and success today."
Write it Down
Go into a rant and let it all out! You don’t have to be a poet to write down your struggles or thoughts on paper. Don’t hold anything back. Use colored markers. The different colors often depict the emotions you are feeling. Releasing anxiety through a rant book or journal can help you be honest with yourself and get in touch with feelings. It will encourage you when you’re feeling bewildered. People have been journaling and writing diaries for years. Some have been found dating back to 10th Century Japan. Presidents, poets, and famous scholars have been putting their adventures on paper for decades. Putting down our thoughts is nothing new as we learned-- it just has advanced through other mediums. The University of Rochester Medical Center found journaling should be part of everyone’s life. “When your world feels like it’s in chaos. It helps you get to know yourself by revealing your innermost fears, thoughts, and feelings. Look at your writing time as personal relaxation time, a time when you de-stress and wind down. Write in a place that's relaxing and soothing—maybe with a lit candle and a cup of tea. Look forward to your journaling time, and know that you're doing something good for your mind and body.”
Small Steps
If you want a fulfilling life start looking at what you do have to help you succeed. Start small by giving, journaling, traveling, and forgiving yourself a little more. Learn to love you again by making up the mind to do so. “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions,” said the Dalai Lama XIV. Make the small changes you need to live a better life.
Beliefnet.com
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