Secrets to A Happy Life
One of my favorite professors in college told me that I was "choosing to be stressed." As a young teenager hearing those words, I was immediately offended. How could he say that my feelings were invalid? Did he not understand the challenges of juggling school work & life all at once? But, after contemplating (& complaining) I realized that he was correct.
I am in control of my feelings. I get to choose how I feel.
So, more often than not (because I have days where I wake up & just can't shake the cloudiness) I choose happiness...& this is how.
1. Name three things you are grateful for as soon as you wake up.
Waking up is a blessing in & of itself. If you start the day by expressing your gratitude, you are less likely to complain about the trivial things.
2. Talk to the ones you love.
We all know that life is short, but I think we sometimes forget & take time for granted. Pick up the phone or send a text or email or inbox the people you love & remind them.
3. Give thanks for the smaller things.
As humans, we tend to only show our highlight reels, the "major" accomplishments we've had. But, there are so many smaller things we should be proud of. Bask in those little things!
4. Eat the ice cream.
I say this all the time. If you want it, eat it. You never know when it could be the last time.
5. Live in the moment.
When you're out with people you love & care about, put down your phone. Take a video or two for yourself, but don't feel the need to post the entire night. Enjoy their presence while being present.
6. Laugh.
There is humor in just about everything. Even in those moments of pure frustration or even sadness, I think that God has a sense of humor...& he wants you to have one, too.
7. Accept that you are human & you are flawed.
I'm a perfectionist. It's both a blessing & a curse depending on how you look at it. I know many can relate. The secret to happiness with this one, is reminding yourself that perfection is unobtainable. As long as you try your best, that is all you can ever ask of yourself.
8. Talk about the things that bother you.
This one is so important & so easily overlooked. Communication is a taught skill, & unfortunately, many humans have yet to learn it. In order to grow & move past situations that bother us or make us feel anything but good/happy/positive, we need to discuss it in the open & then move past it.
9. Ask for clarity & guidance.
If we had all the answers, we'd be God. It's similar to school--if we don't understand, then we must ask. How else will we learn to accept things we cannot change?
10. Remember that you only get one chance at this.
You get one chance to live & create the life that you want for yourself. Don't let that stress you, but instead let it motivate you. Get out there, create the life you know you deserve & smile the entire time you are doing it. You got this.
May your day be ever filled with love, light, and of course, an abundance of chicken tenders💜🌻✨
Cheyenne Pajardo