22 March 2014: Recent Thoughts > International Day of Happiness

I wrote some thoughts down a couple of days ago on the International Day of Happiness (March 20th) that have been rolling around in my head for a week or so. I haven't been feeling myself lately and in the past week I've finally started to see the light and slowly bring myself back to the person I was before a certain someone and situation changed my life. I hope it inspires other people to keep pushing forward with their life and realise that they are the one driving rather than sitting back in the passenger seat and letting someone else take control of their travels.

Does anyone else ever have those epiphanies? Sudden realisations after weeks of feeling lost, confused and like you have no place in the world? After everything feeling like it was falling apart at once and you were digging yourself a huge hole in your mind and heart that you couldn’t pull yourself out of as much as you wanted to? Feeling like nothing was going your way and you keep growing more and more depressed even though you try to avoid that. Feeling like there was only a few solutions left to pause or subside the pain and feelings of hopelessness. It’s hard to instantly get out of that place that you’ve been in for a long time.

This epiphany may come in the simplest and most unexpected form. It could be a sentence you read, something someone says, an old memory or feeling that changes your whole view and opinion on your current situation. Maybe overthinking will come in handy and it will be your own thought that protects you from the depths of what you could have been about to bring to your own future.

Those epiphanies are what we owe our lives to. They are the ones that can save you from your own deep, dark thoughts that swallow your happiness and privilege of living the life you do. They are the light at the end of the tunnel, the reward for having the strength to go through everything you have and come out on top. They are the light bulb moment, the click of your fingers, and the tap of your heels three times bringing you back to your home, to your normal self, to your own soul, mind and happy thoughts.

“Turn your face to the sun and all of the shadows fall behind you”. Yes there may be a time in your life (or a few) where you go back to that horrible place, where you feel like your constant negative thoughts are once again choking you. But wait for that epiphany…know that the lifejacket to save you from your drowning thoughts is floating along to you with the next wave…ready to save you from yourself and your contemplations.

It’s YOUR life. YOUR choices affect what will make up your future. Choose to think positively. At the end of the day focusing on the negatives is unfortunately what we are naturally drawn to but that will only bring more negative thoughts and worry to your life. Instead, be grateful for something in your day. Write down at least one positive thing that happened throughout the day and put it in a jar for you to look back on. It could be the simplest moment such as receiving an unexpected hug, finding your favourite drink on special in the groceries or having a stranger hold the door open for you. These few seconds could be the difference between having a good and bad day. Think about these moments and learn to appreciate the little things, it’s amazing how much it can affect your outlook on life. Realise what makes you happy and do that for others. In my experience, the most rewarding way to make yourself happy is by making someone else’s day, especially when that person is a stranger.

You are in charge of your life. Every choice you make makes up what is labelled as your future. Choose what makes you happy. Don’t like your current job? Go to uni and study what you secretly want to do. Want to visit that country you’ve been dreaming of? Start planning it! Sure you may not end up there in the next few months because of a low bank account balance but who knows what is around the corner in the next couple of years. Someone has to win the lotto, right?

Happiness is that fuzzy feeling that you feel like you can’t be in a better mood than you already are. When you are smiling crazily, sometimes for no reason. It’s something that people take for granted but it’s one of the most rewarding feelings. It is an emotion that everyone wants and lives for. Those who go out of their way to change their own negative thoughts and feelings will be a positive influence on those around them. How often do you want to be around someone who is moody and constantly frowning?

Happy International Day of Happiness!