First things first, let's look at your current situation. I want you to get a paper and pen and write down your response to these questions:
- What types of foods and drinks are you putting into your body?
- Are they giving your body the proper nutrients that it needs to stay healthy and strong?
- What is your current activity level? (sedentary, mildly active, or active)
- Are you currently engaging in some sort of daily exercise routine?
- Are you working on YOU each day through personal development?
- Do you participate in actions that will help with self growth at least once a day?
- Do you feed your soul daily? This does not mean you have to be affiliated with any religious groups.
- Do you surround yourself with positive, loving, and content people?
Second, we need to evaluate what changes you need to make in your life in order to reach your happiness. This area will be different for everyone, as we are all at different levels in our lives. So, as an example I will use my story.
"Just 8 short months ago I was in search of what would make me happy. From the outside my life was full. I was a stay-at-home mom with 3 amazing kids, married to an amazing and hardworking man, and had the opportunity to go back to school to get my degree like I had always wanted to do. Yet, I felt so empty inside. Things started to happen in my life, little changes that made me realize what I needed to do. So, what worked for me was becoming a Beachbody coach (this is not what works for everyone). This helped me with my fitness and nutrition side of things at first. I began by cutting out most of the foods that were creating my anxiety (caffeine and sugars), which kept me from enjoying myself fully. Then I began replacing those things with nutritious foods and drinking mostly water. At first I thought that I wouldn't be able to fully afford this change, or have the time to workout, but I began to make it a priority and I found a way. After about 2 weeks of this change I felt better, but not exactly happier. Then I realized that my mind, my thoughts about myself hadn't changed at all. So, I began to read books to help with personal development. This helped me to deal with the issues that I was dealing with. Things that made sense to me and I began to implement those ideas from the books in my own personal life and thought process. It was hard at first, but it became esier with time. As far as spirituality goes, I thought I was good, but just recently I have noticed that I have strayed from it. I have shoved it aside not thinking that it had that big of an impact on me, but it really does. So, my meditation will commence once again every night before bed. Now, I didn't expect my entire life to change. I didn't expect that I was going to magically have my dream house or car, those things don't really bring lifetime happiness. The changes I am making will bring me long-term happiness that will be with me forever."
As you can see from my story, my happiness level was all brought on by my inner thoughts of myself and my view of my life. I wasn't feeding all aspects of my life properly, therefore I was not balanced. Happiness is not what you have, what others think you have, or what the outside view of your life is. True happiness is what is inside you. Our happiness is based on our perceptions of ourselves and the outside world. Another thing I learned on my journey was that I could not sit here and compare my life to those of others. Many times people are portraying their lives as perfect and happy, when deep inside them they are alone and miserable. We must stop comparing ourselves to one another, we must instead learn about one another, find ways to assist one another to grow and only compare ourselves to where we once were. Now, please, don't get me wrong. Happiness does not mean that you won't still have hard times, rough days or be in a bad mood occasionally. It means that you are happy with yourself and not matter what happens in your life, you will always remain happy with you. All the outer things in our lives will continue to move around us and some will even try to work against us, but when you are strong and happy, you will always win.
Now, I know this all seems like a lot to take in and seems like it will take a lot of time out of your day, but let me assure you that the transition can be simple. Changing a few small things in your life can change how you feel about all situations in your life. Remember that our situations don't bring on our unhappiness, our choice of reaction does. When a negative situation is presented to you, how do you react? Do you think that working on you will help change your choice of reaction? I say, let's stop the cycle of just living life. Let's teach our children to truly love life and enjoy all that it has to offer them. Don't forget, our children our watching our behavior and reactions. They learn from what we do, not how we tell them to act or react.
If you are ready to make these changes in your life and are not sure where to start, please feel free to contact me. I would love to work with you, but I ask that you be completely honest with me on where you are currently in your life in all aspects I brought up. I also ask that you are willing and truly committed to creating the happier you. If you are not true or committed then nothing will change. You have to be willing to put time, energy, and work towards your future.