Tag: how to be happy

Chasing the High 

by Jen Standing, posted in depression, inspiration, motivation, natural remedies

It’s okay; we’re all doing it.

You know, looking for that feeling. The rush, the euphoria – that feeling… like you’re invincible. Chasing the high.

So how do you chase yours?

Many people turn to alcohol to chase the feeling. Other’s indulge in various types of drugs. Some even get that high off of manipulating and hurting people.

Some people can’t live a day without the high, for others it’s a slow brew of discomfort until they chase it like they are going to explode if they don’t catch it.

In my younger years, in an effort to obtain that feeling of being truly alive I would drink. It was the only way that I felt I could let go. And so I chased my high in various clubs and bars and friends of friends houses until constantly trying to get that high brought me, ultimately, to a low.

Then, I found weight lifting, and was introduced to a whole new kind of high. Endorphins rushing, heart racing, and the exhilaration of trying something new. Eventually, the high became simply a part of the feeling of having accomplished something. Every time I reached a new goal, my soul expanded with joy.

I have also felt this feeling doing the following activities:

Falling in love.

Travelling.

Laughing so hard, I cry.

Going on an adventure.

 

What do you do to chase it?

Do you ever just feel TOO good? 

by Jen Standing, posted in anxiety

This is a post only an anxious person would make. No one else would second guess feeling TOO good. But I would.

So here’s the deal. I am used to being afraid. Or worried. Or bending my mind over something. But today, I’m not.

In fact, more and more frequently I’m not.

It’s a good thing, right?

RIGHT?

But it’s also wildly unfamiliar.

I woke up this morning and I started thinking about how everything in my life is actually coming together. I feel that all my dreams are coming true. And I have a wonderful home and two fur babies that I love to a sometimes annoying degree.

Euphoria struck me like a wave and buried me. I started to feel excited about all that is possible for me. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

And then I panicked, because I am not used to this.

This feeling of sheer… happiness. Calm. Serenity.

So get this: I panicked because I wasn’t panicking.

That is how an anxious mind will get you! Rarely will it ever allow you to just be.

It’s astounding to me that people go throughout their lives comfortable with happiness because they don’t experience the same ups and downs as those of us who struggle with mental illness (hop aboard the roller coaster that was my young adulthood).

I think for people that struggle with mental illness, it is one thing to conquer your struggle and entirely another to accept that you can have happiness. 

And so I realize that this is the next part of my journey: to get comfortable with happy.

 

I don’t have to be anywhere, or do anything, or get any last thing done.

The dishes in the sink can wait.

I’m doing enough studying.

I’m awesome.

And I don’t need to worry. I can just be.

 

 

How to just ‘BE HAPPY’ for them

by Jen Standing, posted in inspiration, relationships

Imagine this:

Your friend comes up to you and tells you about their incredible promotion.

Your friend is not only smart, but also super good looking.

Your friend wants for nothing and takes a vacation about four times a year.

Your friend has so many other friends, and they seem to be liked by everyone they meet.

Are you happy for them?

I think we’ve all encountered people in our lives who we feel “have it all”. We often react with jealousy, and we tell ourselves how unfair life must be to give this friend everything, while we continue to struggle.

We often have trouble being happy for that friend. On the surface we might congratulate and smile, but in our hearts we never truly celebrate for them.

This goes so much deeper than jealousy. We are not upset because they have it all, we react with negativity because we don’t have it all. 

When we see other people out in the world being successful, it reminds us of what we lack. The success of others causes us to reflect, and sometimes in that reflection we just don’t like what we see.

We feel inadequate. We are insecure.

Insecurity is at the root of it all. If you are sure of yourself, your life, and your choices, then you can easily be happy for others. Because when you take responsibility for your life, you acknowledge that success and happiness is for everyone, but gaining it is up to you. It’s your journey.

Your friend probably worked hard for that promotion. Your friend probably puts a lot of time and effort into their appearance. Your friend might just balance their budget well enough to afford the trips that they want. Your friend might have so many other friends because he or she has a positive attitude is able to celebrate in the successes of others.

No more negativity. We’ve got to lift each other up! We’ve got to encourage each other to be better.

I encourage you to celebrate in another’s accomplishments today!

But I’m happy. That’s all that matters.

by Jen Standing, posted in inspiration

Money. Cars. Kids. Business Owner. Health. Knowledge. Travel. Relaxation. We all desire different things out of life. Some things are higher up on the list than others. At the top of my list is health, freedom, and enjoying the moment. Many see their success as power, or money, or travel. No one is wrong, we are all just different.

Success cannot be measured on a universal scale – it can’t be measured in any particular way because success means something different to each and every one of us. My priorities in life are optimal health and freedom. Freedom to enjoy life, express myself, and live on my own schedule. To me, success is enjoying the little things and living mindfully. I might never be rich. I might not be able to live off the interest accumulating in my bank account. But I’m happy. That’s all that matters.

Other people want the picture perfect family, create beautiful babies in their beautiful house and to take vacations twice a year. I think if that’s what you want, go for it. It sounds brilliant. It might not be for me, but that’s brilliant.

Other people want to travel 365 days out of the year and live out of a backpack. I think if that’s what you want, go for it. It sounds brilliant. I myself would inevitably get homesick, but for you it might a dream coming true.

I could go on forever, but I know you know where this is going.

The people around you might not understand your journey – they might not see your vision for yourself, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you strive towards it, that you remember that your success is defined only by you. Nothing and no one else. Remember that.