The last few days has been interesting. Seeing a lot of family, a lot of old friends and discussing life, community and the importance of happiness. Each night I have been getting home just rolling around in my own thoughts. The kind of nights where you can’t get things off your mind.
The morning comes and you just don’t want to start the day.
You feel like the world is against you. Like the there are so many things you “have to do”, but the reality is that we easily get lost in our own head. Our thoughts are more controlling of how we feel than we tend to believe.
A good friend of mine had to remind me of a point of view I used to have, but I feel like I have lost.
“Life is only as beautiful as you make it”
Such a simple statement that carries a lot of weight. As I progress deeper into my profession and even my hobbies, I easily brush off things that aren’t done well, don’t look as good as something else or just live a life of comparison. We just want each day to be just as exciting as the best days we have. Our own perceptions can get the best of us.
What we have to teach ourselves is how to appreciate the days that are simple, chaotic and quiet. The days that we think don’t matter. Every day matters. So many of the things we are “able to do” are beautiful.
We are so fortunate to have a life to live and we tend to forget how beautiful that is in itself.
I will be spending some time each day reflecting and being thankful I am able to have a job, drive to work, cook my own food and have a place to stay. That is only the beginning of the infinite things I will and should be thankful for.
So I encourage you to take some time each day to remember to see the beauty that is life.
So easily we see the life we want, but don’t love the life we live.
Nice thought-provoking post, Jacob.
What’s most important to remember in life is that perspective is key. I realise this having battled depression in the past.
You inevitably gain a mindset where you overlook the little things, seeing a negative side to all things instead of the positives, or potential positives. Helping yourself to realise that the best things in life are already there is perhaps the biggest and best realisation anyone can have, and can only serve to lead to a happier life. End of the day, if you can turn around and talk to a friend or family member, it’s a good day.
Thanks for sharing this post, really nice to see someone talk about focusing on a happier life. :-)
Really nice post, Jacob.
Think perspective is key to everything. The way in which we see things has a massive bearing on the types of lives we can live. As someone that has battled issues in the past, the realisation that the best things in life are the friends and family I have, is perhaps one of the most important lessons I think I’ll ever learn. People often perceive situations in a way that they only see the negative, despite there typically being a positive, or potential positive to each situation.
Life is amazing, and if you allow yourself to be grounded in the little things – that is, friends and family (which, inadvertently are the big things) you can live a much happier life.
Thanks for sharing this post – brought a smile to my face seeing someone address this.
It is amazing how much impact we can have on our own happiness. The difference between a good day and a bad one is often a matter of perspective. As with most things in life though, knowing something and acting on it are two different things. Your posts continue to remind me of the opportunities that are all around me, if only I make the effort to pursue them.
I’m disappointed that I didn’t get to be one of those you visited with over the past few days, but I hope we will get a chance to reconnect this summer.