Have you ever been in a place where you just dreaded Mondays and all weekend long as time went by you started getting that sinking feeling in your stomach that Monday was coming?
Or maybe you have that feeling every day where you dread the next day and day after day it is the same sense of dread that the next day is coming.
Well, there was a time I felt like that and I was so terribly unhappy. I felt trapped in a situation that made me feel miserable. I knew I needed to do something to change the situation but I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t want to let down or disappoint anyone. I prayed and prayed about what I should do and I asked my closest friends what they thought I should do but I still had no answers. Time kept going by and I was stuck with this terrible dread for each passing day.
I took a week off and went to visit a friend of mine across the country, in California, and I hoped the time away would help me to figure out my situation and make a decision about what to do to change it. I feel bad for my friend who had to endure me asking over and over again what I should do. As the week came quickly to its end, I was desperate for answers because I planned to return home with a plan.
Then we had this absolutely amazing day. First, we went to see my friends daughter’s musical review for the summer camp that she was in. The whole theme of the musical review was based on the song Happy by Pharrell Williams. In between each musical number they sang the happy song and then would pause for a second here and there for various kids to share what made them happy. Oh, out of the mouths of babes, their words spoke to me. The music spoke to me.
Afterward, we went for a walk around Balboa Island and saw all these beautiful gardens outside all the pretty homes on the water. I kept seeing garden signs here and there with little signs with sayings about happiness. It seemed to be a theme. I was starting to get it. Then we went into a shop with all kinds of really interesting art and gifts where I saw a sign that said: “Do More Of What Makes You Happy.”
That was it!
My answer!
That’s what I need to do!
I need to do more of what makes me happy!
It was like a light bulb went off in my mind.
So I decided from that point on, this is what I was going to do. I was going to make all my decisions based on this message. I bought the sign and when I returned home I put it in a prominent place in my living room to remind me that life is short and I need to always do more of what makes me happy.
Since that monumental turning point and the answer to all my prayers came to me, I have always made that my own personal motto. It helps me make decisions about how I will live the rest of my life.
As for my unhappy situation, I knew what I needed to do and with that new confidence I mustered up the courage to face my fears and I made the changes I needed to in my life to make things better.
The whole situation became a life lesson for me really and it has been much easier going forward in my life to make decisions about how I spend my time and what I do for work. And I have to say, I am a much happier person now.
Do you struggle with finding your happy?
I have a challenge for you.
I challenge you to discover what makes you happy and start making the changes in your life to make that happen. I have created a “Discover Your Happy-Journaling Prompts” Printable to help you get started.
I’d love to hear what you discover. Please share in the comments.
Wishing you Joy in your journey,
If you enjoyed this post, please pin this to your favorite Pinterest Board to save for later. And consider sharing this with your friends who could use a little boost of happiness. Sharing is caring.
FIND YOUR HAPPY
Subscribe to receive a copy of my printable, "Discover Your Happy-Journaling Prompts" to help you plan to do more of what makes you happy. You'll also receive access to my password protected RESOURCE LIBRARY full of tools to help you in your natural health journey.
Great timing on your article! International Day of Happiness was yesterday. The CEO of the company I work for was the founder of this day. I personally find keeping a Gratitude Journal brings me happiness.
Thanks for sharing what makes you happy. Having a gratitude journal is such a good idea. I’ve been wanting to start one myself.