“If you are still alive, still breathing, you can create a happier life… How wonderful is that?” ~ Luminita D, Saviuc

Beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep.

“Ugh.” You grunt aloud as you pick up your phone and realize it’s 7:30 a.m. and you can’t snooze any longer. It’s Monday— and it’s time to start your day and your week.

“I wish I could fast forward to Friday,” you think while stumbling to the bathroom.

You squint your eyes uncomfortably as you turn on the fluorescent lights.

“I just have to make it through the next 10 hours of torture and then I am free to do whatever I want. Maybe tonight is the night I finally start working out. Oh, and there is that recipe I have been meaning to attempt.”

Your internal psychiatrist is already hard at work, talking you down from the metaphorical work-ledge by shifting your awareness into the future rather than the present. This daily dialogue has been part of your morning narrative for far too long.

Once you arrive at work you spend most of your day in a robotic trance. You do your work half-aware, counting the hours until you are finally free.

By the time five o’clock rolls around you are exhausted and unmotivated.

Instead of going home to work on something you love or have been meaning to do, you opt to order delivery and binge watch Netflix while scrolling aimlessly through social media.

In the same manner, you spend your time at work— unappreciative and in a trace— you spend your “free” time as well. Before you know it, it’s nearing midnight and you aren’t quite sure where the time went.

So you put yourself to bed, albeit much later than you anticipated.

You were too busy watching fictitious characters play out on TV while “liking” ultra-filtered photos and snippets of other people’s lives that you forgot to live your own.

You close your eyes, place your phone by your pillow and fall fast asleep. Before you know it, it’s Tuesday morning and you are once again all out of snoozes.

And the cycle continues.

The problem is, so many of us believe we are stuck in a deep hole with no way out. And rather than look for an exit, or learn how to build a ladder, we continue to do nothing to change the trajectory of our lives— except complain and allow defeat to swallow us into an even bigger, darker hole.

“If only I had more money.”

“If only I had a better job.”

“If only I had ___________.”

It’s not about how much money you have. Money can’t give you a happier life, but it can buy stuff. And most impulse purchases result in quickly unhinging highs.

It’s not about what job you are working. Any job can be enjoyable if you allow it to be so. But, if you spend your time complaining and hating your work you will be miserable for many of your waking hours.

It’s not about fill-in-the-blank.

It’s about you.

How to Awaken Yourself to a Happier Life

If you are unhappy or unsatisfied with your life and you want to live a happier life, YOU are the person who must do the work and make changes. The idea of re-writing your life may seem overwhelming, especially if you feel trapped. But, the key to making positive changes is to think big and act small.

Here are three ways you can begin:

1. Awaken yourself to a happier life through the practice of daily gratitude.

Gratitude is a powerful force. When practiced regularly it’s scientifically proven to increase immunity, happiness, joy, optimism and positivity all while lowering blood pressure.

So what are you waiting for?

It’s time to get healthy and get happy so send all of your “thank you’s” into the universe and watch in awe as you discover more and more things to be grateful for.

Start by writing or saying three things you are grateful for. These things do not need to be complex; simple, quick “thank yous” are just as effective.

For example, maybe today you are especially thankful for your coat because it’s winter.

Or perhaps you are thankful for a healthy body that allows you to walk the earth without issue.

Or maybe you are thankful for your stocked fridge because even though money it tight, you still have enough food to eat.

2. Set Weekly Goals to create a happier life.

Once you finish your gratitude list, write down three goals you want to accomplish this week.

Your list should be attainable and realistic to you. Remember, this is just for the week, not the entire year.

Steer clear from anything that is likely to set you up for disappointment such as writing, “make a million dollars.” While this is possible, it’s highly improbable for most people to amass a great fortune in seven days.

Create goals that will motivate you and allow you to gain a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment once they are complete, rather than goals that may leave you devastated due to their inability to come to rapid fruition.

By doing this you will learn how to maximize your time and resources while increasing your self-confidence. Once the week is finished and you achieve all of your goals you will feel competent, successful and ready for a new week and new set of goals.

3. Live Presently Everyday to create a happier life.

You might not love your job. You might not love your house. And you might not love your current position in life. But, nothing in life ever remains the same— and life doesn’t come with a warranty.

When you spend your time wishing to be somewhere else and someone else, you lose the experiences and opportunities ready for you right here, right now. And as you go through your life, you will realize there is nothing more important than your experiences because those become part of your journey, like a tattoo embedded in your soul, experiences are the memories of your life and journey here on earth.

Take time every single day to do something memorable for yourself and those around you. Be kind. Share love. Make a painting. Learn a foreign language. Walk to a place you have never been before. Smile. Practice gratitude.

Now is the only real moment you have— so bask in it.

You can prepare for the future without spending your life living for the future. Making plans and setting goals is an important part of life. Doing these things will help you uncover the life path you are most interested in venturing down, but remember to remain flexible, don’t fall in love with your plans, instead fall in love with your experiences and your life. 

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