So lately, I have been trying to change my attitude. As optimistic and cheerful as I know I come across, sometimes when it is the more everyday stuff, I just can be a real debbie downer.
1. I'm sorry you've been feeling this way. I love you so much and want to be a part of your re-optimism!
2. I do think we are in charge of our own happiness. While I think it's important to have goals or want to accomplish certain things, that CANNOT be all it's about. If you don't have happiness before reaching your goals, then what happens when you don't reach them?
You are one of the most vivacious and fun-loving people I know. Ever since we met, I have often considered you (and Josh as well) when I am struggling with my attitude because you guys never seem to have any complaints and I want to try to be more like that.
Wow! What a compliment! That is amazing. Thanks for your support. For realz. I think you are right about if you don't have happiness before reaching your goals - it could be bad if you don't ever reach them. I am not sure what is the next step. I have to be agresssive about trying to change my little debbie downer-isms. They are so wired into my circuitry. And subtle. But I feel optimistic about it!
Man, I don't know how they do that! But we are parking our cars in the same garage! I often used to think well, once I have a career, or live in a better apartment or go on this trip, I will be truly satisfied! But it's wasting valuable time wating to get to that next point and you never know if it's going to bring the feelings you're expecting. So I think you're right! You have to enjoy the here and now often - as much as possible. This is it. Life is happening now. In progress. Don't beat yourself up for not being able to appreciate it and feel joyful 24/7 - that's not possible. But try and interject something to look forward to every day and find the things that you love about life right now and add what you can as you can. And then sometimes it's ok to be annoyed, etc. For instance, I just bought a violin and I'm going to learn how to fiddle and that just gave me all sorts of current life glee. Even though I haven't found that career yet, etc. It's hard to just switch over to the happy attitude but I think it makes
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Is this Eileen? So confused by the parking cars in the same garage comment. Maybe it was an analogy. Regardless, I agree with whomever you are. I like the idea of interjecting little things to look forward to in every day. Recently I have started a very simple rewards system for myself when I reach goals. I have a bunch of little tiny cut up index cards with "$2" written on them and whenever I reach a goal, I throw that in my wallet and use it on whatever I want. Like illegal drugs or clam bakes. I love it!
I'm a lot like you in this respect. It's hard. But I think the more you can determine your identity and who you want to be - in a broad sense - the more you can focus on what really matters and spend your time and efforts working toward that goal. And if what that is (or "who" that is) changes along the way, that's ok too.
Define success and happiness on your own terms and remember that getting there is a positive thing even if it has its rough spots.
I like that last line you wrote. I should define success and happiness on my own terms and remember that getting there is a positive thing. Yeah! I remember when I was planning my trip to go to Africa 2 years ago, I kept thinking that I would learn all these things about myself once I got there. It wasn't until much later in the planning and more hindsight that I realized I started learning as soon as I uttered my plans outloud. For realz. Sometimes it really is about the journey and not the destination.
funny, Drew pretty much said the same thing I was going to. I am a HUGE fan of this sort of introspective stuff, and from personal experience, it's not just the gratification of getting the goals that makes me happy, but it's being on the journey that I want to be on, making the life I want, that really makes me happy. As I plug away at those life goals and have those little daily successes it just feels great, like you're aligned with the universe or something. I think it is in our nature to always look forward, always want more, always wait for something ahead of us to help us finally define our lives. But it truly is daily looking at your life and making sure it is the life you want. If it isn't, do something to change it. If it is, then that's worth being incredibly happy about right there
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Yeah girl! You are one to seriosly talk about setting and making goals! Wow! Everytime I see you, you look fantastic and I am not just talking about your awesome bod. I also like your affirmations journal idea. Sometimes those accomplishments/things we are proud of fall so quickly from our memory.
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2. I do think we are in charge of our own happiness. While I think it's important to have goals or want to accomplish certain things, that CANNOT be all it's about. If you don't have happiness before reaching your goals, then what happens when you don't reach them?
You are one of the most vivacious and fun-loving people I know. Ever since we met, I have often considered you (and Josh as well) when I am struggling with my attitude because you guys never seem to have any complaints and I want to try to be more like that.
So, what's the next step? :)
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Define success and happiness on your own terms and remember that getting there is a positive thing even if it has its rough spots.
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