on experiencing happiness

{via}

So I'm on this new happiness kick thing. Maybe it's the start of a new year. Maybe it's just because. But I seem to be really interested in learning about why people are happy and how we truly experience that in our life. It's this fascinating to anyone else??

I'll save you from the shpeal (sh peal?) (speal?) about true happiness being found in good health, lots of friends, good life choices...or even money. Do people still think money buys happiness? I thought we were over that one.

Anyway...there's a lot out there that says 40 percent of our happiness comes from our mindset about things and only 10 percent of our circumstances. (the other half is genetic..) And you know what? I think I'm buying it. Here are the biggest things I'm learning:

Learning how to be content in what you have is the best medicine for materialism and a case of 

the "gimme-s."

Realizing that really good or really bad things that happen to us are temporary external factors, and that we as humans are actually very resilient. We can choose to be positive in whatever circumstance we are in.

Change in our mental state takes time. But we can work on it by taking one day at a time and being grateful for what we have in that very moment. 

I realize that some of you have gone through some really hard things and want to discount advice from a girl who's life has been, in general, pretty fantastic. My intention isn't to discredit your own feelings or experiences -- life is hard and bad things happen.

I simply want to encourage us to be people in this world who experience happiness because of who they are and not what they have. There are so many times when I have failed at this myself but this joy thing is contagious. And we have the opportunity to encourage one another in that daily.

What is your take on happiness? What makes you happy?
How are you able to experience joy or happiness and encourage others in that?

If you want to read up on this a little more read this book or watch this documentary

it is well

These days I'm finding it very easy to be able to say this with a genuine heart. I have been overwhelmed with blessings beyond belief and really, the only thing to complain about over here is chipping nail polish and cloudy skies. {read: first world problems.}

I am reminded of this time last year as I was preparing to spend a good chunk of my year overseas. When my soul felt a bit on the rocks. A little lumpy. Uneasy. Stepping into the unknown wasn't safe or easy -- but it was good. And it turns out that walking through that experience was "well" in it's own kind of way. 

So after finding peace in the midst of change and uncertainty, knowing that God is ultimately the one that brings it in all circumstances, I am experiencing peace in this season of abundance. 

Today, this day, recognize your abundant blessings and give thanks. 

do what you do

brother's graduation yesterday -- oh yeah, you know it was just a magical experience being back in that high school all over again. {thank the good Lord we're all done with that!}

the graduations speeches were actually above grudgingly average this time and being able to check out those ridiculous heels (?) all the ladies were sportin was entertainment in itself. {the question mark because i'm not sure you could call something like that a shoe -- it's got to be closer to a stilt or something.}

admittedly, all that inspirational jabber was kinda good to hear again. ya know about how you should not care what other people think, blah blah blah, be successful in whatever you do, blah blah blah, you've made it through high school you can do anything, {sorta true} blah blah blah. 

but you know what? if people actually did what they all set out to do, if they {we}, actually pursued life goals that we cared about...something we're good at...something that makes someone else's life a little bit easier...well, maybe all of our blood pressures would go down a little bit and "work" wouldn't be so, well, terrible. 

it is not your adult obligation to be miserable doing what you do.

so as a little graduation-sparked reminder to all of us....

remember all those things you said you wanted to do when you got out of high school/college/whatever?

DO 'EM.

like right now.

do what you do. be who you be. just don't be miserable please. 

that job position's been filled too many times. 

   

sorry for the cheese-fest post. just had to.
happy weekend!
xoxo