Tag: happiness

Three equations regarding mental health

Anxiety = Uncertainty x Powerlessness

Disappointment = Expectations – Reality

Happiness = Wanting what you have / having what you want

There’s no better time to be alive

Take time to reflect how free you are and how good your life is. There is no better time to be alive than right now! And the great part is, the same can be said no matter the stage of your life you’re in…

If you’re a kid, playing with your friends, not having to work or pay bills, there is no better time to be alive; if you’re away at college, in a new place, proving that you could do this “adulting” in bits and pieces, staying up late with friends and being out on your own for the first time, there is no better time to be alive; if you just got your first well-paying job after living like a broke college kid for years and you have no idea what to do with this money, there is no better time to be alive; if you just had your first child (or second, third, or fourth children) and they run into your arms after work or make the most precious laugh, there is no better time to be alive; and so it goes on and on.

See the positive in every situation and focus on where you are RIGHT NOW. If you focus too much on the past, it can lead to depression. If you focus too much on the future, it can lead to anxiety. Just focus on the now – there is no better time to be alive.

Change your attitude to change your life

You get what you look for in life. If you’re grouchy or mad or sad and you just want to be in a bad mood, you can find ways to reinforce those negative thoughts. But if you are positive and “happy go lucky,” if you are always looking for the silver lining, you’ll find that too. Your attitude shapes your perception of the world.

Change your attitude for the better and you’ll change your life for the better.

Unplug yourself

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott

If you ever feel stressed out, burned out, or overwhelmed, take some time to just unplug. Sometimes we’re so used to being “on” that we just need a break. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s understanding that giving yourself the night off, or maybe even just a few minutes to yourself, will help you reset.

If it’s possible, take time to sit in silence, to take some deep breaths, to get away from technology and/or some of your ongoing duties. Most things won’t permanently break if you step away for a second. Almost everything is fixable and it will all be ok. The moment you stop putting so much pressure on yourself and give yourself permission to reboot, the less anxiety you’ll feel. Love yourself and forgive yourself enough to know that you’re not perfect (nobody is) and that you’re human and need to unplug from time to time.