Happiness....

I just wanted to touch on the subject on happiness and finding happiness.

I know myself, I get caught up in thinking that happiness is a destination- I used to think once I got to a certain weight, then I would be happy, or once I get over this month, then I'll be happy, once I get a new car, once I get my dream job, THEN I'll be happy.  But the truth is, happiness isn't a destination, it's a journey and it's being thankful and grateful for what you do have right in the present moment.  I find that if we rely on 'things' (car, job, another person) to determine our happiness, once these things are taken from us, then our happiness is also taken.

For me, happiness is a deep belly laugh, a run in the sun, spending time with people I love, making memories, etc.  And don't get me wrong, I think it is perfectly normal to be happy when you get a new job, new car, lose weight, gain weight-whatever-but I don't think these temporary things should be used as the be all and end all of your happiness.  

In modern society especially, we think that someday we will be happy when we get that new car, new job, new relationship, but it's important to remember that happiness is a mood, and it's a condition and not a destination or something tangible.  It's like being tired or hungry, it's not permanent-it comes and it goes and that's ok (in fact, it's perfectly normal).  So when striving for happiness, remember, that you will experience it, but there will be somedays where you don't feel upbeat and happy, and there will be no good reason as to why-but that's normal and it's expected.  So acknowledge those days and how you feel and roll with it.  

I am also learning that happiness has to come from within, you have to love and accept yourself and acknowledge where you are in the present moment.  Personally, at the moment I struggle with "once I finish uni, then I will be happy!", but there's not guarantee that once I have a degree I'll be happy, and I don't finish uni for another year and a half-does that mean I cannot be happy for another year and a half? NO! I won't let that 'mean girl' in my head determine when/why/what will make me happy.  Instead, I'm going to acknowledge that for the time being I am a uni student and there's so much to be happy for right in this moment.  I get to see my friends most days, I'm learning, being exposed to the best educational resources, I get to live at home and see my Mum everyday, I have free time, I have more independence than when I was in school.  

So take a deep breath, put one foot in front of another, appreciate the small things and trust that you will feel happiness.