Everyone wants to be happy. But how often can you really tell yourself "I'm completely happy with my life right now"? How many times have you let your day get ruined by one person's comment, or a random facebook status, or finding out someone ate the leftovers you were looking forward to all day? Well, maybe the last one is just me, but you get the point. How can you solve this and finally be happy? Here's what's worked for me:
1. Remind yourself that everyone has worries.
Everybody loves somebody, and everybody is just trying to find where they fit into the world. Everything you hold dear, someone else laughs at, just like you laugh at what other people love. My mom would always send post-it notes with quotes on them in every college care package and one in particular resonated with me: "Be kind, always. Everyone you meet has worries." Realize that there's a reason why everyone is the way they are, and you can't possibly know everyone's life story. It's so much easier to be a decent person, and not worry about what other people do or don't do. There will always be people who disagree with you. There will always be people who just rub you the wrong way. Respect them, try to empathize with them, but don't obsess over them. If you see something online that makes you upset, just don't look at it. Don't get into arguments with people you know bring out the worst in you. Let people be people, and live your own life.
2. Recognize that every moment is a sacred experience.
This is an idea I first heard from Doug Forlano in a youtube video, and it's stuck with me ever since. In the video, he says "Every moment is a sacred experience. We're having a sacred experience, the people across the street are having a sacred experience..." Whether or not you believe in God, or gods, we can all agree that our time on Earth is precious. Every moment we're given is a blessing, and we should treat it that way. I'm not saying you need to jam pack every minute with a life-changing adventure, but don't waste today wishing it was tomorrow. Tomorrow will never come, and you'll never get yesterday back. The only day we have is today. Make it a good one.
3. Realize just how small you really are.
With over seven billion people alive at this very second, chances are, you won't ever be famous. The odds of you becoming the next Thomas Edison, or Muhammad Ali, or Will Smith are, well... seven billion to one. But! The odds were the same for them. So why not you? Kevin Smith once said, "Please pay attention very carefully, because this is the truest thing a stranger will ever say to you: In the face of such hopelessness as our eventual, unavoidable death, there is little sense in not at least TRYING to accomplish all your wildest dreams in life." You have to believe in yourself enough to know that there's something special about you that makes you the best person for the change you want to see. And when you figure out that your only shot at making the world a better place (and being happy) is to become what you know you can, you'll have a much stronger commitment to your dream. You won't be a kid just trying to make a living, you're now a yet to be discovered hero on a mission. Following your dream makes you see every moment as a stepping stone to your goal, and when you think like that, you'll learn to appreciate every high and low that life is going to bring your way. So don't sweat the small stuff, be thankful for it. Give thanks for everything God has given you, and show your gratitude by making the most of your life. We're all counting on you.
