Keys To Happiness

Today in my human relations class, we discussed the keys to happiness. As we were going through the list, it really made me think. I wanted to share some of those thoughts and see if these things resonate with anyone else as well. 

1. Pursue - Meaning, don't wait for happiness to just show up at your door. That's not going to happen. You need to go out and search for the things that will make you happy. I feel this is very relevant in my life right now because I made the choice to go to college. I am currently pursuing my dream of working with animals. Does it scare me? Absolutely! But I feel that in the end, everything will be worth it. I just need to work my hardest and focus. This obviously doesn't just apply in terms of career/job. 

2. Befriend happy people -  This is one that I REALLY need right now. Having negative people around will only bring me down. Even if they aren't actually saying anything, just their negative aura can pull others down. I have a few of these people around me on an almost constant basis. I need to find others that have a positive outlook and can lift me up when I need it. People that can encourage me and brighten my spirits. 

3. Pursue self-love - This one made me laugh a little bit when I read it. I thought, "Of course masturbation is going to make someone happy!" My professor said that you really need to learn to like yourself. If you can't, then how can you really expect others to? I think this is absolutely true. Are there things about myself that can be improved and worked on? Of course! But that's every person in the world. There are things that I absolutely love about myself as well. I strive to learn and gain information. I love with all that I am and my friendships mean the world to me. I can put a smile on people's faces and I can make others laugh. I feel that I am true to myself even when others may not like it. I realize that not everyone is going to be my friend. I don't need everyone to be. I have to live with myself, so if I like me, I'm ok with a few less friends. 

4. Savor the here and now - So many people are thinking of their futures or are completely stuck in the past. I am guilty of letting these thoughts fill my head as well. I think of all the shitty things I've done. What I've done wrong and how I could have done it differently. I need to realize that it's gone. The chance is over and I need to move on from it. I also need to learn to not stress about the future. What I do now will determine how the future turns out. I need to learn to focus on the moment at hand and really live it. It's definitely easier said than done, but it's worth trying to stick with. 

5. Help others - Helping others when they need a hand is a good way to lift yourself up. I know that when I've lent a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on and I've managed to make that person feel better even just a little bit, I feel like I've done my job as a friend. I feel good. I want others to know that they can rely on me when they need something. Plus, it feels nice to be needed. 

6. Create self-time - No matter how many things you have going on, there needs to be some time put aside for yourself. For me, this is something as simple as listening to some music or watching a movie. I love being around people and hanging out with friends but sometimes you just need to relax by yourself. It's healthy. Some people can take offense to it because not everyone needs the same amount of space. I think I tend to need more than most of the people that I am around. 

7. Stop whining - Everyone complains. And sometimes that complaining is justified. Most of the time it isn't. A lot of the time when I whine, I'm joking. And of course I have to do the annoying voice that goes along with it. :) When I really complain, it's usually about something like having to do a lot of homework, or something like that. Well, I chose to go back to school, so I should probably just shut up. Plus, even while I'm complaining, I know I'm doing the homework for a good reason. 

8. Don't obsess over things you can't control - Ah ha! This is mine right here! I'm terrible at this. I do it all the time and even though I try to work myself out of it, it seems like a vicious circle. I try to make deals with myself and con myself out of thinking about a particular thing. I try to tell myself that I'm going to jinx something if I worry about it too much. I'm talking almost OCD level type stuff. If I send this particular text message, I ruin it. If I keep listening to this particular song over and over, it'll make this happen. Yeah, a little nuts. Like I said, I'm always trying to make deals with myself. I need to learn to relax (which I have no freaking clue how to do!) and just let things take their course. I actually tend to be a pretty laid back person... on the outside. Haha. I'm kind of a mix of everything. A mutt, if you will. 

9. Be true to your values - I feel that I have a pretty good handle on this one. I don't really let people push me around or change my mind. If I stand firm on something, I'm pretty much not moving. Does that mean I can't compromise? Not at all. I can compromise. It's just the things that I am absolutely sure of that I won't budge on. I don't try to hide who I am or the fact that I am a complete dork. I will gladly embarrass myself in public for someone else's amusement. I will sometimes drag others with me though. ;) I feel like I am a fun, happy, loving person and I hope that when people meet me, those are the things that I portray to them. 

10. Decide to be positive - Another biggie for me. I need this in my life SO badly right now. I'm constantly surrounded by negativity and it's tough. No matter how much I try to brush it off, some of it always sticks. Bad always sticks in your mind. So again, I just need to have bright, positive people around me to keep me on track. I've made some new friends that I think fit that description well. 

Haha! Just kidding.

I absolutely loved this discussion. I think I'm really going to enjoy this class. It will definitely cause me to do some personal refection and really examine myself. Hopefully it will help me learn some tools to change some of my bad habits. I'll leave you with some Christina love. <3