It's easy to be happy when life throws you pleasant surprises. When you get a good grade on that paper you were freaking out about, or when you go on a road trip with your best friends over the weekend, it seems like life couldn't get much better. It's the times when life seems to be fighting against you when happiness is out of reach, and if you're like me, you find yourself in a funk you just can't seem to work your way out of.
Recently, life's been throwing me lots of curveballs. It's seemed like I can't find my happiness among the sadness.
So I've been doing something about it.
It starts with the beginning of the day. Every morning, I take a few minutes to stop and mentally prepare for the day ahead of me. I think about the worries that are facing me, and instead of dwelling on them, I acknowledge that they exist and put them into perspective. If I'm worried about a class, I remind myself that it's only an hour and that I am strong enough to get through it. If I'm worried about having a tough conversation with someone, I remind myself of the importance of the conversation, as hard as it may be to have.
Throughout the day, when I find spare moments, I like to scroll through Pinterest and look at inspirational quotes. (Yes, I'm basic, but it really works for me.) I've always loved quotes. There's something about reading them that makes me feel connected to another person, someone who understands what it means to be human and face struggles.
"It's only a bad day, not a bad life." -- Johnny Depp
As my day begins to wind down and I wrap up my homework, I take time to do something I enjoy. Sometimes, this activity is time-consuming and thought-provoking, like writing, or something leisurely, such as coloring in my adult coloring book (no shame).
Finally, as I hop into bed, I take a few minutes to reflect on my day. Did I face any struggles that could have prevented my happiness? How did I handle them? What could I do better to ensure my "bad days" become better days?
How do I make my "bad days" better days? Well, Aristotle says that happiness is an activity of the soul. We can't rely on material things to make us happy, and this is something I've gotten better at recognizing. Taking a walk through nature or sitting on a couch writing poetry always seems to cheer me up when life doesn't quite hand me what I'm looking for. Maybe you like to listen to music, or maybe you like to be crafty. Maybe you just like to sit around and drink coffee with your friends. Do the things that please your soul.
Focus on the little details of everyday life. When the "big picture" of our day seems to be negative, we can brighten it by focusing on the things that brought us split seconds of happiness. Maybe someone complimented your shirt, or your friend showed you a video that reminded them of you. Let these moments add up. They'll contribute to your happiness.
It's OK to have bad days; they can't all be great ones. However, we are in control of our happiness. We can't sit by and let life happen to us. We have to do something about it. Find activities that set your soul on fire and run with them. Remind yourself that this is a beautiful life that you're blessed to live and that small moments of happiness add up. I promise you will be able to find something good in each day, as long as you look for it and fight for it.
