Being a freshman in college, it’s basically a part of my schedule to be a stressed, moody mess. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing with my life the majority of the time while the rest of the time I’m trying to figure out what to do with my life. It’s a very stressful combination, to say the least. With professors who think their class is my only one, staying up to pace socially, and the plethora of relationship stress that I thought would be left behind in high school, it’s easy to fall into a slump of stress. When I thought long and hard about what I wanted out of my college experience, and the first answer was always being “to live a happier life,” I decided to pursue what actually makes me happy, instead of just thinking about what would make me happy.
Happiness is being loved for who you are. Something so genuinely heartwarming about college is that you are destined to find a group of people who whole-heartedly accept you, even if you feel like that won’t happen. You will not be happy if you are trying hard to be somebody else, thinking that acting the certain persona you wish you were would make you happier. It won’t. If you can’t feel that people would love your true self, you won’t accept yourself. Find people that accept everything about you and who will still be by your side even after knowing all of your flaws. Experience happiness in your own skin.
Happiness is accepting responsibility for your life. Running away from all of your problems may seem like the easiest choice, but when you overcome a tough math problem that you’ve been working on for hours or overcome a tough breakup, you’ll come out on the other side a stronger person. You’ll be proud of overcoming the hard times while making the good moments all the more blissful. Holding responsibility to your name allows you to have a purpose, and having a purpose keeps you going. You hold depth to your being, and you’re responsible for your actions- let that fill your emptiness.
Happiness is crying. Yes, I meant what I just said, as weird as it may seem. Whether it’s crying from laughter or from monstrous sadness, there’s nothing quite like the reminder that you’re beautifully and unapologetically human. The ability to release emotions is something only human beings are able to do and if you’re feeling numb to the bone, like nothing seems to matter, let out a tear, or cry for hours even. You’ll feel better afterwards. If you’re laughing until you’re about to pee your pants, tears swelling your eyes, I don’t think there’s a better release of emotion. To experience happiness you have to force yourself to feel.
Happiness is altruism. Random acts of kindness allow you to see that you can make others happy, and although you may not be doing it to your benefit, you’ll feel happy knowing that you have the ability to make others experience happiness- it’s contagious. Be selfless every now and then, and if you don’t want to focus on yourself and your problems, don’t run away, but channel that emotion into making others feel better. It’ll pay off.
Happiness is dancing in your underwear to your favorite song. Sometimes you have to embarrass yourself in all ways imaginable to be able to have the most fun. Having not a care in the world is such a liberating feeling. During times of stress or at your lowest point, turn up your music to the highest volume and let it out. Dance in a grocery store while everyone is looking. Your endorphins will naturally overcome you, even for just a second, and you’ll forget that you were dancing in your underwear. The human mind allows itself to escape reality, even for just a second, and that escape is incredibly therapeutic.
Happiness is having hope. I personally believe that hope is what keeps us going each day. When we completely lose hope is when we will have the hardest time picking ourselves back up. Things do always get better, even if they have to get worse first. There are so many things to experience in life. The hope and belief that everything will work out, that you will find love, peace, and success with whatever you decide to do with your life, you will find the happiness and motivation to be your best self and keep going. Hope is the most important part of continual happiness.
Lastly, and most importantly, happiness is refusing to fall victim to your life and choosing to be happy. You ultimately get to decide how you feel--not the person who broke you heart, not that F on your exam--you. You can choose to live in the past, feeling all of the painful moments each moment of every day, excusing your actions for everything you’ve been through, or you can grow up, let it go, and choose to be happy. You can easily allow yourself to be victim to your environment, or you can rise above and choose the high road. It seems so easy to be sad, and extremely difficult to be happy. We want to choose the easy route, but don’t. Work hard for that happiness. You may not be happy all of the time, that’s nearly impossible, but don’t live in morose. Don’t choose to be the victim--no one is going to pick you up, and you’re going to be left stuck. Get up, breathe, and choose happiness. Take initiative and take control of your life. It’s up to you to decide how you want to live the rest of your life.
Life is truly so beautiful, and if you come out of your shell for air, you’ll allow yourself to experience everything it has to offer. The world owes you absolutely nothing, so instead of waiting to be happy, choose to be happy.
