How pleasant or awful your life is depends entirely on how you respond to it. Take for example the weather. A rainy day may come as an answered prayer for a farmer and may spell disaster for a child eager to play outside with his friends. The same holds true to your experience of life. What is a miracle to some may translate as a nightmare for others. We have no control over most situations that happen to our life other than our response to it.
One irony in life is that everyone wants to be happy but only a few actually are. The secret to becoming a happier you is actually no secret at all. Let me share with you what drastically elevated my experience of life and how it can also work wonders to you.
Become Aware
Take a step back. Be aware of your thoughts for a moment. Are the dominant thoughts in your head causing you to evolve or revolve? Are you moving forward or are you just moving in circles? The starting point of my progress was when I started becoming fully aware of my thoughts.
Everything that you hold constantly in thought will find its way to your experience. Think always of negativity and your day will surely suck. Dwell regularly on gratitude and you will constantly find yourself smiling. You become what you always think about.
Tend to the Soil and Flowers Naturally Bloom
When I realized that my misfortune was my own doing, I started taking steps to change how I think. To do this, I had to stop bad habits and distance myself from people who are emanating negativity. I began reading books that were aligned to the person I wanted to become. I started filtering content in my social media so that I'd see only things that build me up. I began planning small ways to improve my skills and to edify my character. But the real game changer for me was when I started my daily meditation.
Real talk, meditation is the single biggest best thing that has changed my life for the better. It allowed me to remain unmoved and calm regardless of the situation and has made me immensely happier! However, contrary to popular belief, meditating is not a one-time big time move to empty the mind and be enlightened. No! It is a daily habit I do to tend to the mind and cultivate it so that I get the most out of life.
I can go on forever just talking about meditation but the formula is fairly simple: new thoughts lead to new actions which generate new experiences. So, if you want a happier life, start by renewing your mind through regular meditation.
Consistency and Discipline
Many will do it, but only a handful will remain for the long haul. Just like health and fitness, you do not get healthy by eating a single apple. Instead, your health gradually gets better through constant exercise and a balanced diet. The same goes for your experience of life. One seminar, one bible verse, one prayer, one meditation will not instantly grant you your best life. It is all about consistent small actions that you daily do to progress to a better you.
I have to be honest, it never felt great at onset. In fact it sucked big time! I had to get up early to pray and meditate. I exercised relentlessly even if I did not feel like it. I planned my finances and sacrificed fleeting pleasures for a stable future. But you know what, after a bit of time, those growth pains paid off and I could not have been happier. So, if you are committed to becoming the best version of you, start now! Count your blessings, smile often and always go the extra mile for yourself and for others.
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