Have you ever worked with or known someone who is downright miserable? No matter what you say to pick the person up, they choose to stay down. Well, working with the public, I have encountered many people just like that. People who have a chip on their shoulder regardless of what you say or do. Some people can even take a compliment and twist it into something negative. It never ceases to amaze me. Happiness or misery? It’s a choice!
The Life Lessons of Observation
I am an observer. From a young age, I have learned a lot by watching people and how they behave or act. In doing so over the better part of four decades, I have acquired certain revelations.
- No one has a perfect life. Perfect doesn’t exist among humans. We are perfectly imperfect.
- Sometimes the people among us who appear to be the happiest are the most troubled and depressed.
- Spirituality is a big key to genuine happiness.
- Some of the most miserable people I have ever encountered in life have some type of unaddressed or self-inflicted baggage.
- Some people bask in the misery of others, which is possibly one of the most disheartening things I have ever seen or experienced.
Choose Happiness Or Misery
There was a time I could see myself becoming one of the people that walked around with a chip on my shoulder constantly. I had developed some bad habits and a negative thought process, which stemmed from a negative opinion of myself. Once I became conscious of this, I tried to make some changes! I didn’t want my friends and family to have to walk on eggshells around me! I wanted to be a fun-loving person. It was then that I decided this: “You can choose to be happy, or you can choose to be miserable.”
For many years, I had to repeat that phrase to myself multiple times a day. My friends and family know that I can get pretty crabby! Listen, I am not going to lie to you. Some days, I am not happy. Although the days of feeling completely miserable are few and far between, they do happen. I know enough to limit my contact with others until I get out of the funk. As I said in the article “How To Adapt an Amazing A-Ha Moment to Boost Happiness,” I love my forties because I have learned a lot about myself.
What Impacts Your Outlook On Life?
The great thing is, I know that doing certain things affect my outlook on life:
- Lack of sleep. Nothing can cloud my judgment and mood the way exhaustion does.
- “Me” time. I need time to myself every day. Most people do. I like to get up early in the morning and enjoy my coffee for at least an hour. This way, I am able to mentally review my day and be in the right frame of mind to face it head-on.
- Music. An upbeat playlist is an affective way to change your mood!
- Weather. While I cannot control this, unfortunately, I know that the lack of sunshine really gets me down. Short of moving or taking a winter vacation, there isn’t much I can do about this one. Investing in a sun lamp may help.
- Prayer. Personally, this is very helpful. In a sense, I organize my thoughts during the process of prayer. It helps me seek help and let go at the same time.
- Laughing. Laughter is truly the best medicine in life. Laugh with your kids. Watch a television show or movie that makes you laugh until, frankly, you nearly pee your pants. It works wonders.
- Gratitude. It’s amazing how powerful this one is. The more you search for things to be thankful for, the more you realize how fortunate you are. “Give thanks with a grateful heart.”
- Being active. If I walk my dog, work around the house, run errands, I feel better. Have fun with it! If no one else is home, I dance. My dog looks at me like I am crazy, but she can’t tell anyone:)
- For me, treatment of anxiety was a big help. I tried to “fix” anxiety on my own, but when the physical effects (heart palpitations) became an issue, I consulted my doctor. What a difference that has made in my life!
Sunday Shorts
Today, I am introducing “Sunday Shorts,” which will expand on previously written blog posts or topics but won’t be as detailed or lengthy. Hope you enjoy these excerpts with a nice cup of coffee or tea!
Remember, justorganizemylife.com is about so much more than organizing your house. That’s only a part of it. Organizing our minds and ridding them of emotional clutter, so to speak, is the key to enjoying life! If we aren’t mentally organized, how can we expect to have the focus to organize our homes or anything else for that matter? The pieces all fit together like a puzzle.
You can choose to be happy or choose to be miserable. The choice is completely yours. I have tried to teach my children this. If there is something in your life that keeps you from being happy, then change it! It may not be easy, but it is possible.
As always, I am grateful that you took the time to read the blog. I welcome and encourage your comments!
Until next time,
April
