As people, we’re set on believing that happiness always lies in the future. The moment we decide we aren’t content with the path of life we’re walking on, we’re so eager to move forward with the next best thing.
It can be hard to not hope for different circumstances once we find ourselves caught in exhausting situations. While this mindset isn’t exactly negative, always expecting things to get better can hold us back during the moments when nothing seems to be going our way.
We approach life with the assumption that we are guaranteed a new partner, a better job, a more fulfilling lifestyle. As we watch everyone around us gain the parts of life we feel like we're missing, we're stuck waiting for our turn to experience the rare adventures that make being alive so beautiful. We either work hard trying to obtain these successes or wait for them to come to us on their own, believing that receiving these things will somehow change our direction and ease our ability to achieve happiness.
Even with the incentive to work for our goals, we can’t demand change if the world isn't ready for us to experience it yet. In the process, we neglect to appreciate the current aspects that make our lives the way they are and become disappointed when life doesn't work out how we planned, even if better things are just around the corner. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but the one thing that will always stay consistent is our ability to find positivity regardless of which stage of self-discovery we're in.
So what if happiness was as simple as living in the moment? When we wait impatiently for the future, we deny ourselves the pleasure of enjoying life as it is by placing expectations on the way we’d like to live instead of appreciating the people, places, and things that have given us the love and support we needed to keep moving.
After all, no matter who you are, there's something in this world that will give you purpose makes you happy.
Maybe it's the heavy pounding of rain on your window during a massive storm, petting a dog that seems way too excited to see you, or going on late night adventures with your friends on the highway with the windows rolled down. Regardless of what you choose as medicine for your soul, as long as you're satisfied and aren't hurting anyone, embrace the things that make your life feel like it's worth living.
And on days when you still can't find something to smile about, make a list of all the people, places, and things that have brought you joy recently as a way to call yourself back to reality. I promise even if the one thing that made life feel okay was a walk in the park or a new song you discovered, you'll feel confident enough to use these remedies during hard times when you can't find anything to smile about.
There are so many things in life that are going to hurt you regardless of whether or not you're ready for them; you'll experience way more loss, pain, and heartbreak than what you've encountered so far. Even so, there will always be something to appreciate right now, no matter what the future holds.
Things are allowed to be hard, but never let that stop you from ignoring the beautiful things that can be found in the moment.
