Gratitude and wonder have the power to overcome the sadness in our hearts. In the battlefield of personal struggles, these are the tools by which to get through shitty days. I’ve come to find that in my pursuit to enjoy more from my life, I find it extraordinarily effective to remember to focus on minimizing sadness in addition to maximizing joy. These tools are what help me do just that.
It’s a balance of these two mindsets that have begun to help me the most. What does it mean to minimize sadness? Well, people say that time will heal all wounds, but they don’t say how long. That’s for you to decide. The trick is figuring out how to get back on your feet quicker than last time. I’ve gone through many “health” crazes during my days. And even if I’ve gone to the gym 5 times a week for 2 consecutive months, If I miss a day, I could miss a week. Then a month. Then I’m 40 pounds bigger and feel like a king elephant. And that is just in the realm of physical health.
The same can take place for our mental and emotional health. Maintaining a level of joy for life is a constant effort. I believe that happiness is a muscle, not a reward. It’s not something you win or earn externally. It’s something within you that you must choose to grow and strengthen. The goals you set for yourself and an everlasting appreciation for the life you have. And when those shitty days come — the ones where you skip the gym and the ones where you eat enough for a family of 7 three nights in a row, the key is to not let that become the new normal. To not forget the good and think of only the bad.
Because you are ever only in this moment. And even though the distractions are around us, and even though there are so many things on our minds, at some point I truly believe we all know what we want out of ourselves. We just have a hard time believing its possible.
Whether its 3 months, or 3 weeks, or 3 days, it’s never too late to get back on your feet. And as for me, I’m probably more of a prince elephant now ;). So figure out what drives you and brings you passion and follow that path.
Got a project you wanted to work on? Start it up!
Been a while since you went to the gym? Go for a run!