I hear many people ask “How can I be happier?”
Do you want to be happy?
Do you know you could be happier?
Ok. Stop what you are doing right now and assess. Do you enjoy doing this? Why are you doing this? Why are you doing what you doing right now?
Obviously right now you are reading this blog and I would love it if you would continue and I hope you are reading it because you are consciously choosing to.
I would like you to do this many times throughout your day though. Just stop and think "Why am I doing this? Do I enjoy this?"
If you are serious about finding a solution to your question “How can I be happier?” be prepared to explore your choices and actions now.
Of course we all have responsibilities and things we have to do. I don't love cleaning the bathroom for example but I can light a candle, put on some music and make it as enjoyable as possible as I know I just have to do it!!
So stop what you are doing and ask yourself these questions. To begin with do it as often as possible. If you aren't enjoying what you are doing or you haven't consciously chosen to do it these activities need to be looked at.
Are you consciously choosing to do this? This was a big one for me. I would be sitting watching TV for example and when I started asking myself these questions I realised I was sitting there unconsciously watching whatever just because I was too lazy to make a different decision. Or actually to lazy to make a decision at all!!
Now I only ever turn the TV on if I want to watch something. That might be a particular show or I might just think, Ok I feel like sitting and watching a bit of TV. I always limit this time now and since I have been doing this it is rare I choose to watch TV, usually I realise I would rather be reading or studying or catching up with friends or family or sitting outside enjoying a cup of tea.
Are you enjoying doing what you are doing right now? This is a harder question. Sometimes we have to do things we don't necessarily enjoy. We have responsibilities after all. I used cleaning the bathroom as an example now while I don't necessarily enjoy doing this, I don't hate it, I get it done and understand that I need to do it. If I resented doing it I would have to look at that and why. Is no one else in the family helping and I feel they should? It is important to identify and deal with the real issue!! If I just really hated it and it made me miserable I would need to look at alternatives. Could I change my attitude? Could I reward myself once it was completed so I changed the way I looked at the chore. Could I pay someone to do it? There are always options.
A big one is what if I don't enjoy my work? Work takes up a huge part of our life and if we find it unrewarding or unenjoyable it can have a huge negative effect on our lives and our attitudes.
Firstly, if you don't like your work the first thing you should do is be grateful for it!!
Seems weird even hard to do?
Maybe, but so important.
If you are doing a job you don't like and you haven't resigned you obviously need it for one reason or another. Is it the money? Your work is providing you this so give thanks!!! It is also giving you the opportunity to learn or develop skills which will help you find different employment. It might be giving you purpose in life. You might like your coworkers at least. Find things to be thankful for.
Now it is time to look at your options. What else can you do? What would you like to do? Can you retrain? Can you rearrange finances to allow you more freedom?
Each situation will be different but what can you do to change your situation?
Take control.
Give thanks. Look at your options? What is stopping you? Is it your attitude? Is it your training? Is it your finances? You can change any of these situations if you choose to.
I posted a quote on my instagram account recently @jodireeveslife
If you aren't ready to change nothing will help you.
If you are ready to change nothing will stop you.
Are you ready to change? If you aren't, that is fine but change your attitude. You are choosing to be where you are so be grateful for it and find the positives.
It is your job to make yourself happy. No one else will make you happy!
Are you happy doing what you are doing right now? If not why not? If not what can you change?
When you ask “How can I be happier?” Remember is certainly acceptable and even encouraged to look for more happiness but it is up to you.
Jodi Reeves
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