My Soul, My Environment
It may seem obvious, but we do not devote enough time to thinking seriously about how we spend our life and how much of it we actually enjoy. Our souls yearn for balance with our environment; because without balance, happiness will remain elusive. Studies have shown that, if we were to write down all the activities we do on a daily basis we would see that we spend a great deal of time doing things we really do not enjoy, and less time doing the those that bring us satisfaction. We do not realize our happiness is something we could design and have control over. David Simon suggests that we take time to listen to that inner voice and ask ourselves, “What is it that we really want out of life?” Once we can figure that out, it’s a great start to developing balance in our lives!
Analyzing and understanding how we feel is not necessarily easy and may require questioning long-held beliefs and assumptions. For example, a high-powered career might, in fact, turn out to be unfulfilling; a committed relationship once longed for could end up being unrewarding even with all the compromising that comes with having a partner; keeping that second job in addition to hopes of making the dean’s list in those classes towards higher education can be stressful.
Fortunately, changes do not have to be big to bring balance to one’s life. Try bringing balance by transferring even an hour of our day from an activity we hate (commuting, the marathon meetings) to things we enjoy such as spending time with family and friends. Or make a list of those things that you consider positive versus negative. Then concentrate on elim inating the negative and developing the positive to lift our spirits and change our perspective. We would see a significant improvement in our overall happiness while experiencing more balance.
Taking action and making change is the key. Get rid of psychological and physical clutter: old fights, used linens, clothes that have been hanging in our closet for years that we know we will never wear again. whatever is weighing us down, toss it out and do not look back! If we are trying to forgive someone, write a letter expressing our true feelings even though we may never send it. We can even burn it after we have purged our feelings. The process is cathartic, and it will make us feel lighter.” When we are finished, we must remember that old cliché, “Frowning causes wrinkles”; then celebrate by realizing that burden has been lifted for good.
A recent study, at the University of Missouri, compared college students who made intentional changes (joining a club, upgrading their study habits) with others who passively experienced positive turns in their circumstances (receiving a scholarship, being relieved of a bad roommate). All the students were happier in the short term, but only the group who made deliberate changes stayed that way.
Try making change by being confident in knowing who you are and where you are going in life. Stay focused by making a mental note of the following tips: For every negative, counteract by creating a positive; recognize that patience does not always come naturally, it is something that has to be developed over time; when making a mistake, take a moment to think about what we could have done differently – that’s great practice in learning from our mistakes, then pick ourselves up when life throws us a curve ball.
Author Barbara DeAngelis suggested, the one resolution we must keep this year is to start by taking inventory of what matters to us and what makes us happy. Then, work on savoring those experiences. Here are four ways to create more delight each day. Make "fun appointments" Go bowling! Cook for friends! "When we do something physical - such as laughing or singing - it's chemically beneficial and can get us out of a funk," another joy booster; share funny anecdotes, or tell stories. Every evening, ask your partner or kids to talk about the high point of their day - and you do the same. It will encourage a positive conversation, instead of one focusing on our daily annoyances.
An antidote to all the bad news out there is to, read positive stories, about people who are making progress - or share our own story. Check out activities like rejuvenating film, books, and music. Creating ideas that are fun helps to make room for more joy. Find balance in your life by taking-it-easy.