When's the last time you were thankful for a good situation? Now, when's the last time you were thankful for a bad situation? Looking at the two questions, which one was easier to answer? Most likely, the first question was easier to answer. It's easy to be thankful when life events go our way. However, when life pulls the carpet from under your feet, it can test and question everything you know.
In my life, I have had to work hard for everything; nothing has been handed to me. In fact, if someone earns something good, I have to work at least 10 times harder to achieve the same goal. It's not that I am lazy. In fact, it is the exact opposite. There are days I question why I have to work harder than most people I know. It can be disheartening, frustrating, and exhausting.
Currently, I am at a point in my life where there are many variables up in the air that could alter or change my life forever. Outcomes I thought would happen have turned out differently. I wonder why I am placed in situations when my talents and work ethic would say otherwise. However, I continue to remind myself that life will work itself out. I know it is not my place to question why life events happen to me.
In an effort to become a better person, I am looking at my current situations from a different paradigm. Instead of wondering why certain situations happen to me, I look at them and question what I can control, my motives behind the situations, and whether I am learning humility. Humility keeps me grounded, puts life into a different perspective, and has taught me to question myself in a new way.
Right now, the lesson I am learning is that I must be humble in situations that test me in order to truly appreciate when favorable outcomes happen. It is not easy, but it has helped me to become a well-rounded human being. Also, I know, at the end of the day, my work ethic, desire, and perseverence will take me far in life. I may be frustrated, but I know everything works itself out at the end of the day.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Seek Support
If you have a problem, do you seek advice from someone else? When you're in a jam, is someone there to hear you out? How does it feel to seek support? Is it awkward, disheartening, a joyous moment, a pleasant experience, or is it something I did not mention?
Seeking support can be a touchy topic, which can prevent some from doing so. Some are simply too stubborn and think they have all the right answers. Even when they don't, they still continue to do the same things, expecting different results. Others may be embarrased. It's not that they don't want to ask for help. Asking for help is a blow to pride. There are those who are content with being sad and not seeking support. Seeking support means there is less drama.
Regardless of reason or excuse, seeking support is so important. From personal experience, I used to shun the concept of seeking support. I thought people would try to change me. The thought of sitting in a counseling session did not thrill me. I did not trust counselors nor did I think they knew what was best for me. I rarely shared personal details of my life with those closest to me; what I said did not remain a secret.
Throughout the years, I have learned to seek support from others. Why did I decide to seek support? It's because I've allowed myself to become vulnerable. I came to terms with the fact that I may not always like what I hear and I may not always have the right answer. Once this happened, I let the support of others do what it is intended to do-for me. It keeps me grounded, grateful for what I have, helps me to wrap my head around daily life, and gives me a different perspective on life.
I encourage you to seek support in your life. It doesn't have to start with an astronomical, life changing event. It could start with something as simple as asking for advice on a general issue that doesn't necessarily pertain to you. Once you get used to doing this, begin incorporating personal information. You can seek support from a family member, friend, co-worker, or any other person who's willing to offer you solid, honest support.
I know seeking support can seem daunting and scary. However, if you allow yourself to be vulnerable and realize that people want to support you, seeking support will become easier and it will become as necessary as water is for survival. Once you allow yourself to seek support, there will be nothing that can stop you from becoming the best you can be.
Seeking support can be a touchy topic, which can prevent some from doing so. Some are simply too stubborn and think they have all the right answers. Even when they don't, they still continue to do the same things, expecting different results. Others may be embarrased. It's not that they don't want to ask for help. Asking for help is a blow to pride. There are those who are content with being sad and not seeking support. Seeking support means there is less drama.
Regardless of reason or excuse, seeking support is so important. From personal experience, I used to shun the concept of seeking support. I thought people would try to change me. The thought of sitting in a counseling session did not thrill me. I did not trust counselors nor did I think they knew what was best for me. I rarely shared personal details of my life with those closest to me; what I said did not remain a secret.
Throughout the years, I have learned to seek support from others. Why did I decide to seek support? It's because I've allowed myself to become vulnerable. I came to terms with the fact that I may not always like what I hear and I may not always have the right answer. Once this happened, I let the support of others do what it is intended to do-for me. It keeps me grounded, grateful for what I have, helps me to wrap my head around daily life, and gives me a different perspective on life.
I encourage you to seek support in your life. It doesn't have to start with an astronomical, life changing event. It could start with something as simple as asking for advice on a general issue that doesn't necessarily pertain to you. Once you get used to doing this, begin incorporating personal information. You can seek support from a family member, friend, co-worker, or any other person who's willing to offer you solid, honest support.
I know seeking support can seem daunting and scary. However, if you allow yourself to be vulnerable and realize that people want to support you, seeking support will become easier and it will become as necessary as water is for survival. Once you allow yourself to seek support, there will be nothing that can stop you from becoming the best you can be.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Endulge? Yes, I think I will.
When's the last time you enjoyed a guilty pleasure? How did it make you feel at the time? Did you feel guilty for endulging when you were finished? I cannot speak for the entire world population, but many people I know have at least 1 guilty pleasure. When they're finished endulging in it, they feel guilty, even though they thoroughly enjoyed it.
I will be the first to admit that I have a few guilty pleasures. Mine consist of eating mint chocolate chip ice cream (The DeLish brand from Walgreens is my fave!), browsing Pinterest and posting fashion pictures to my boards, listening to Rhapsody for a few hours each day (if my schedule permits), sleeping in on days I don't have to get up early, and reading celebrity tabloids when I stand in line at the grocery store. I know some will relate to what I wrote and others will look at my guilty pleasures and see them as a waste of time.
I own the fact that they are my guilty pleasures. I don't feel guilty if I endulge in what I enjoy. My pleasures make me happy. Some days, they help to preserve sanity. I think it can be agreed upon that many people have something they do that society looks down upon, but they will still endulge because it makes them happy.
If our pleasures make us happy, then why are they called guilty pleasures? I cannot say with certainity, but I think the term guilt implies that we are doing something we shouldn't be doing. I shouldn't read celebrity tabloids. I shouldn't spend a few hours mindlessly browsing on Pinterest. Guess what? I don't feel guilty. I will sing my gospel to anyone, anyday.
If you enjoy doing something society deems unimportant or worthy of being considered guilty, then you place your happiness in the hands of others. Take action and own what you enjoy. Start living life the way it should be, not how others think it should be.
I will be the first to admit that I have a few guilty pleasures. Mine consist of eating mint chocolate chip ice cream (The DeLish brand from Walgreens is my fave!), browsing Pinterest and posting fashion pictures to my boards, listening to Rhapsody for a few hours each day (if my schedule permits), sleeping in on days I don't have to get up early, and reading celebrity tabloids when I stand in line at the grocery store. I know some will relate to what I wrote and others will look at my guilty pleasures and see them as a waste of time.
I own the fact that they are my guilty pleasures. I don't feel guilty if I endulge in what I enjoy. My pleasures make me happy. Some days, they help to preserve sanity. I think it can be agreed upon that many people have something they do that society looks down upon, but they will still endulge because it makes them happy.
If our pleasures make us happy, then why are they called guilty pleasures? I cannot say with certainity, but I think the term guilt implies that we are doing something we shouldn't be doing. I shouldn't read celebrity tabloids. I shouldn't spend a few hours mindlessly browsing on Pinterest. Guess what? I don't feel guilty. I will sing my gospel to anyone, anyday.
If you enjoy doing something society deems unimportant or worthy of being considered guilty, then you place your happiness in the hands of others. Take action and own what you enjoy. Start living life the way it should be, not how others think it should be.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Enjoy Life's Small Pleasures
When's the last time you enjoyed your day? After you think about this, what happened during your day? Was the day full of epic events? Did you plan an event and saw it through to fruition? What made your day enjoyable? I ask these questions because there's so much negativity about daily lives. Drama started again, someone received a bad grade on an exam, the car was repossessed, the bills were twice as much as I thought they'd be this month, etc.
Earlier, I mentioned the concept of epic events. I cannot speak for each person in the world, but I have noticed a pattern emerge as I progress in life. It seems people have joyous days when a marriage proposal happens, a baby is born, a surprise party was thrown, and so forth. I will say that these are wonderful events that should not be overlooked; they are wonderful experiences that should be celebrated. What I am referrinng to is the daily grind of life. If an epic event doesn't happen, then how often do you hear people talk about their daily enjoyments? Based on what I've seen and have heard, it doesn't happen very often.
A couple days ago, my boy friend and I sat on the couch together and played a game on his phone called "Guess the Song." I think we played the game for 3 hours. That was a day I enjoyed. This past Sunday, I made Strawberry French Toast for the first time; it was the best french toast I've eaten yet! I enjoyed that moment and day. Not too long ago, I watched Hunger Games for the first time. Why did I not watch the movie sooner?!?! Needless to say, I enjoyed that day.
It may appear to be obvious, but the small pleasures in life make each day enjoyable. The epic events are wonderful and should be cherished forever. I also think the small pleasures in life should be celebrated. The small pleasures may not seem worthy of celebration. However, if you take the time to enjoy the small pleasures of life, you will become a happier person and the epic moments will be that much greater.
Earlier, I mentioned the concept of epic events. I cannot speak for each person in the world, but I have noticed a pattern emerge as I progress in life. It seems people have joyous days when a marriage proposal happens, a baby is born, a surprise party was thrown, and so forth. I will say that these are wonderful events that should not be overlooked; they are wonderful experiences that should be celebrated. What I am referrinng to is the daily grind of life. If an epic event doesn't happen, then how often do you hear people talk about their daily enjoyments? Based on what I've seen and have heard, it doesn't happen very often.
A couple days ago, my boy friend and I sat on the couch together and played a game on his phone called "Guess the Song." I think we played the game for 3 hours. That was a day I enjoyed. This past Sunday, I made Strawberry French Toast for the first time; it was the best french toast I've eaten yet! I enjoyed that moment and day. Not too long ago, I watched Hunger Games for the first time. Why did I not watch the movie sooner?!?! Needless to say, I enjoyed that day.
It may appear to be obvious, but the small pleasures in life make each day enjoyable. The epic events are wonderful and should be cherished forever. I also think the small pleasures in life should be celebrated. The small pleasures may not seem worthy of celebration. However, if you take the time to enjoy the small pleasures of life, you will become a happier person and the epic moments will be that much greater.
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