Life is a rollercoaster and we all know it. We have our good days and we have our not so good days. Something that I kept catching myself say was, "I'm not happy". But then I kept thinking, am I unhappy or am I just bored waiting for the next best thing to happen? I'm in a waiting season of life right now. I'm not planning a wedding, we're not moving or buying a house, no babies anytime soon, so am I unhappy, or am I just dwelling on the fact that there isn't anything exciting happening, and I'm just living everyday life?
This is when a huge mindset change has to happen. Just because something exciting isn't happening, doesn't mean we can't be happy, and I mean truly happy. We can fake it on the outside (we all have) and sometimes we can even fool ourselves. What it all comes down to is how you feel in the dead of night when there's nothing besides your own thoughts.
We can all lie to ourselves, avoid the pain, and end up "happy", but wouldn't you rather be truly happy? In order to do this, we need to face the truth of our unhappiness. Sure, it might cause you more pain, stress, or unhappiness in that moment, but in the end, you can be truly happy knowing that you dealt with each problem to improve your life and strive for more positivity in your life.
Staying positive in these moments is a choice, and one we have to make daily, hourly even. My Pastor just finished a teaching series called The Happiness Challenge, and honestly, it was life changing. He taught me that we can't wait around for the next peak experience or life's dopamine hit to be happy. We can be happy no matter our situation. He said: "Happiness is always found on the other side of pain" and it's so true.
Pin Me For Later!
Pin Me For Later!
No matter if my anxiety has been at an all-time high or depression is kicking my butt, I know in the end, I can be truly happy. It will take some work, I will have to deal with the pain and find the root of the problem, but I know I will be happier in the end. Truly happy.
Learning to be happy in the hard times will allow us to love our lives. We can find good in bad situations, because we can choose to learn from these situations so we can make a change for the better.
Often times I wonder why poor people are some of the happiest people alive. It's because they make the most of every situation, they aren't relying on those mountain top experiences, and they are some of the most joyful, giving people out there--even when they don't have much to give!
I want to challenge you to a 21-day positivity challenge that will get you on the right track to making positivity a habit and ultimately lead to true happiness. For this challenge, I've partnered with Pamprin, because together, we want to inspire self-care through the power of positive thinking and self-talk. When we feel positive and happy on the inside, we can do amazing things.
Now, let me just point out the obvious, and then I'll continue on with this life-changing challenge. For all my ladies reading, we know that Pamprin is for PMS, which is a total downer--especially when we are trying so hard to stay positive. Pamprin Multi-Symptom contains three active ingredients: an antihistamine to relieve irritability, a diuretic to fight against bloating and water weight gain, and a pain reliever to alleviate cramps. Pamprin Multi-Symptom has the same strength as Extra Strength Tylenol, plus the added benefits of fighting bloating and irritability--leaving you feeling so much better.
You can find Pamprin at your local Walmart.
You can find Pamprin at your local Walmart.
With this challenge, together with Pamprin, we want to replace the "drag" of PMS with something uplifting and inspiring. We can change the world with just one positive thought, so let's do this, ladies!
21-Day Positivity Challenge //
Day One // Start today with 3 positive self-affirmations
Attach your list to your mirror. Read them aloud every day. Add to the list ever day.
Day Two // Find positive company
Who are the stars in your social circle? Who build you up? Stick with the stars and become one.
Day Three // Make a list of things for which you're grateful
An attitude of gratitude is a sure fire way to attract positive vibes.
Day Four // Give yourself and others an "atta girl (boy)"
When you give encouraging words, you also receive them.
Day Five // Seek, and you will find
We are responsible for choosing our perception. Look for the good, and you're 100% guaranteed to find it.
Day Six // Find what brings you joy
Unlike fleeting pleasure, joy is consistent. We cultivate it internally. Maybe it's listening to a certain song or listening to a motivational speaker, whatever it may be, order it up every single day.
Day Seven // Stop and smell the roses & give one away
Be present minded enough to give and receive life's simple gifts.
Day Eight // Hit "replay" and make it a habit
Positive thinking begets positive action. Positive action (over and over) creates positively powerful results.
They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so after just one week, you're already a third of the way there. Keep it going! Your mental health and happiness all depends on your positivity. It is possible to be truly happy, and when you are, you can do great things. Always remember: " So in all that you do, stay classy, stay positive, and love the life you live. The world is at your fingertips, darling." -- 💗KMJ
Oh I so need to do this positivity challenge! It seems so hard to stay upbeat most days.
ReplyDeleteThis post definitely hit a soft spot. I actually had a similar conversation with my boyfriend this morning after seeing a post from my FB friends about their depression/suicidal thoughts. Since I've dealt with the same type of thoughts before, I get really worked up when I hear someone else is going through similar. Obviously depression is very real and should never be taken lightly, but I was wondering about all the potentially toxic patterns that many of us with depression fall into that can make matters worse.
ReplyDeleteOne common pattern I have when I'm feeling even slightly icky, is automatically saying to myself "I'm going through a depression spell." I think that mindset makes it worse for me, because I think I may be subconsciously psyching myself into believing I should always feel good. Which in reality, like you were saying early in the post, we're not supposed to be feeling good 24/7 or always in turn up mode lol. But because I battle with the subconscious belief that I should always feel good, I find myself drowning a flood of negative thoughts, such as believing I must be broken because I'm feeling slightly down or salty right at the moment. I'm beginning to learn that not every small mood swing is due to my depression issues, and that feeling down or bland at times is perfectly normal. When I account everything to my depression struggles, I realize I'm mentally isolating myself from people because I'll think I'm not normal. Which isolation will almost always lead to far worse depression.
So, yeah, this is a great post and reminder about how our life's are still very effected by how we perceive things. Your post reminded me of how much control I still have over myself even when I think I'm losing to depression and anxiety. Thank you <3
- Tia | www.filtercrave.co
Such a great reminder and inspiring post! Even on the bad days it's good to remind ourselves that there's something good about every single day. I always try to focus on gratefulness whenever I'm feeling down and out and remembering that someone out there is struggling with something worse. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have heard that sermon. It is so true, that in a lot of cases happiness can be a choice. I read the "Pete the Cat" books to my children. They teach kids to look at the bright side and positives in every situation. Mindfulness is also such a great practice. Mindfulness helps us be present in the moment instead of worrying about the future or the past.
ReplyDeleteWhen we really keep our eyes open, there are so many things to notice and be grateful for even during simple, everyday life! In fact, the "everydays" with my family are some of my favorite days!
ReplyDelete