We talk so much about building a life that the questions becomes are we living it? It’s super easy to focus on the things you wish or want to have. It’s important to count your blessings too. Living your life and enjoying life is something we need to do more of.
Acknowledging Life
When was the last time you simply acknowledged the life you have? Sometimes being aware of the issues that troubles you is easy. They may be in the forefront of your mind. You have to do the same to acknowledge where you are in the sense of how blessed you are. Earlier this week I was writing some of my accomplishments and before I started I told myself I would have to hurry up because the list wasn’t as big as those around me.
Thief of Joy
Comparing yourself sometimes stops you from seeing the real love and joy you actually have. That writing of my accomplishments started off on the wrong foot. As I began to take the blinders off and stopped comparing, I saw that one my list was long. My list was dope. I really had an amazing life. We don’t see the greatness by shining the light on how bright we look compared to someone else. We shine because we know the light coming from us is bright and illuminating our space of the world in big ways that no one else can!
Growing and Learning
We have to be able to grow. We grow from tragedies when they come. We grow from learning. Learning sometimes hurt. We can’t grow and not expect the lessons to help us be great even if that greatness is down the line. I know in a self gratification of life we want our flowers now! We will get them but we have to put our time in. It’s like a rose; once it buds it’s one of the most beautiful things. Continue to grow. Continue to be coachable and able to take help.
Flaws and All
The way we highlight our flaws should be illegal. You go hard in the paint to make sure you wallow in the negative. Get out of there! Acknowledge your flaws. Strive to make every flaw a success story. They all have potential to be apart of your story and not the end. I remember being in the worse of situations feeling it was the end of the road until I remembered it’s only a chapter. The chapter may be long but is simply a chapter. The chapter may be embarrassing, but it’s only a temporary chapter. When this long chapter is over I want to see it be used to bring me to the best parts of my life.
Learning to Smile
Ladies especially hate to hear a strange man say smile. One because we aren’t here to smile on command. There are a thousand ways any of us has for not smiling. Some times at least for me I found that I wasn’t smiling because I got used to not doing it and not because I didn’t have real joy! I’m not a robot that I have to smile and be fake. However if you get used to not smiling so long a simply gesture of bringing your own smile back is necessary. Remembering you have a reason to smile is key!
Bringing Joy Back
Happiness is a personal journey. The more we understand that the easier it is to focus on it. Sometimes we may others responsible for our happiness. I used to think my husband had to do things like flowers, dinners, and gifts to make me happy. I used the phrase “a happy wife, happy life” to justify it. What I didn’t take into consideration is that I had to be a happy individual to begin with. There are husbands right now doing the absolute most for a wife who may be internally miserable. There aren’t enough gifts to bring back a battered soul!
Happiness is Your Internal Work
Joy is being content regardless of your situation. It ignites peace that can weather many storms. Happiness is very temporary. I say ever because happiness requires alignment. As long as money is there-people think they are happy. As long as their relationships are secure people think they are happy. Happiness should be an extension of joy! Being happy is your internal work. You can find something to be happy about and ignite that with the joy of life that makes it real! Ignite joy and let happiness flow from it!
I hope this Sunday (or whatever day you read this) is a day where your reflection is open to receive. I pray that you’re open to hear and take away the part that you need. Happy Sunday!
