So many things drag us down, keep us feeling heavy, burdened, responsible, and overwhelmed. Have you ever felt those feelings? You know, the ones that keep you up at night, that follow you around all day, distracting you from being present and in the moment?
Life can be so overwhelming with all of the things we feel we ‘should’ be, do, or have, that we forget what it is like to be free of worry, to be just ourselves like we were before we had to do this ‘adult’ thing.
Take time to breathe
A few months back I decided to start taking more time to ‘just breathe,’ and simply let the stress go and not be obsessed with having everything be perfect. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it will never be perfect no matter how much I fretted about it.
Sure, life would be easier with more money, nicer with a fancy car, exciting with exotic trips, but would I be HAPPIER? I mean, every time I meet someone who has all of these things and seems to have life in the bag, there is probably something that they too are struggling with. Something that they wish was different. Perhaps it is their health, more meaningful relationships, family problems, or a job they burn both ends of the candle at.
I think we can get so carried away thinking about everything we wish we could change because it looks greener over ‘there,’ and ‘they look happier than I do,’ and ‘those people have no stress because they have tons of money’ and so on. But that’s just not the case.
Everyone has stuff, no matter who you are, or how it is portrayed on the outside, everyone has stuff. And if you don’t, please, share your secrets with the world, because we need more of you.
The key to happiness is…
I believe that the key to happiness lies within our own minds. If we remain the same on the inside, but something external changes for the better (like money, material items, a new relationship), eventually we will get used to that status quo and we are still left with ourselves, our thoughts, our inner feelings. We have to look within to find that happiness we all seek so badly, want so badly, yearn for so badly.
Taking time to breathe, to just let the stress go, to stop judging ourselves, comparing ourselves, and beating ourselves up is the beginning of what true happiness is all about. Have you ever looked at a child playing in the pool? They are happy, laughing, jumping, and splashing. They have but one goal to achieve, pure happiness. They don’t worry if they will be fed or if the sky is falling down! They just keep their eye on the prize and have as much fun as they can.
Children have the amazing ability to see things in the present moment. They absorb fully in what they are doing, what they are feeling, and are not distracted with their to-do list, homework, or their chores. Each of those things happens when it happens and doesn’t take up space in their minds like it does as we get older.
So, a few months ago I decided to let it all go, to just be me, to be free from all of the pressure I put on myself to be ‘more’ then I am. It’s not that I am not continuing to better myself or move forward towards my goals, I have just decided that the important things are being happy with me, as I am right now, even if I don’t like the current place I am at.
I think we can all learn something from that. Just let all of the worries and comparisons go, and be free to just be you, completely and fully. Live our lives a bit like a child: in the moment and free.
Smile more, laugh more, play more. Happiness comes from the freedom to be you, no strings attached, no stress and no pressure. So let it go, just be free to be unencumbered you.
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About Monika
Monika Majnik is a Lifestyle Entrepreneur helping women create financial security. She has a background in Environmental Science, is a former Personal Trainer of 25 years and worked in the Vancouver movie industry, is a nutritional and weight loss Guru, and an expert in helping those diagnosed with SIBO or Leaky Gut find health again. Her services can be found on her website along with her blog that includes a variety of topics ranging from breast implant illnesses to eating disorders. Monika also has free healthy recipes, workout routines, and offers a variety of courses geared towards goal setting and achieving! |