“To be upset over what you don’t have is to waste what you do have.”
This quote, by Ken Keyes Jr., reminds us to count our blessings. Moreover, it reminds us that the more time and energy we spend being upset about the things we don’t have, the less time and energy we have left to appreciate what’s already right in front of us. Therefore, those things almost feel wasted. When they’re not noticed in the first place, we fail to tap into the joy of having them.
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Whether good or bad, it’s yet another day; and tomorrow can be better
“There is no royal road to anything. One thing at a time, all things in succession. That which grows fast, withers as rapidly. That which grows slowly, endures.”
“The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need tomorrow.”
“The secret of happiness, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
Gratitude and contentment are two things that create a solid foundation for happiness. That’s what this quote, by Socrates, is all about. When we’re grateful and content, we’re able to enjoy what we have now. And while we pursue our goals for the future, we do so already with a foundation of happiness. Therefore, our happiness isn’t necessarily a result of having more. It’s the result of an unshakeable mindset and ability to enjoy the little things.
“Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.”
A lot of our unhappiness comes from comparing our life with others’. However, we don’t know what challenges someone else is going through unless we’re walking in their shoes. We all have our own unique path. And each of our paths will have some trails and tribulations. So, before comparing your life with someone else’s and looking down on your own, remember that you don’t know the full picture of someone’s life unless you’re actually living it yourself. Not only that, the act of comparing prevents you from being able to recognize the good things you already have, diminishing your overall happiness. This quote, by Marquis de Condorcet, is about…
Living Life Poetically: Keep On
The poem, “Keep On”, was written for those bad days; for whenever you feel like giving up. Perhaps, you’ve lost the drive to pursue your dreams and aspirations. I’ve been there. However, I’ve learned that giving up leads to more regrets. So push through the challenges. Come out stronger, each time, than before. Keep on. Keep On Take heart you downcast, my friend. Joy and happiness,You deserve. Though gone for now, They’re only hidden. Discovered, not given. Found where contentment, faith, and hope means believing, In a life that’s always worth living. So, keep on. For the journeys to come.
Keep it Simple
Keeping things simple sounds like something that would be simple to do. But not quite. We’re more inclined to overcomplicate our lives. For instance, we jampack our schedules, ending up with little personal time. Or, we overcomplicate what we eat, following restrictive diets with a laundry list of guidelines. We may even overcomplicate our relationships. There’s this perception that the more faceted, elaborate, or belabored things are, the better. However, not necessarily. There’s definitely a point where things get overcomplicated, causing us even greater distress. So, we should always be mindful of our overcomplications–remembering that we can do ourselves a big favor by just keeping things simple.
Living Life Poetically: True Lights
We all want happiness. We all need it. And the desire for it is naturally in our DNA. However, what truly makes us happy is something that needs deeper reflection. Some of the things we believe will make us happier might only do so temporarily. Meanwhile, some of them might even leave us worse off in the long run. So how should we think of happiness in a way that really means something–long term; in a way that is actually life-changing–for the better? The poem, “True Lights,” is a short poem exploring this question. True Lights We search for happiness. Life, we hope to enjoy. But things that relieve can…
How Less Can Mean More
Can having less stuff mean more? It seems counterintuitive, but the answer to that is yes. Conversely, can having more stuff mean less? Again, yes. I never really thought about these two contradictions until a few years ago when I watched the documentary, Minimalism, on Netflix. It literally changed my outlook on life. Or rather, my outlook on stuff. I experienced the quintessential paradigm shift. It turns out, having less stuff can actually add more value to our lives. For example, more peace of mind, more contentment, more time, more meaningful relationships, and more space. Meanwhile, having more stuff doesn’t always necessarily add value. It can mean less; resulting in…
Why the Serenity Prayer Should be a Part of Your Every Day
Life can bring a lot of worries and concerns that interfere with our peace of mind. Esthella B This is a no-brainer statement that even our very first ancestors would have to agree with. However, they probably wouldn’t agree that the level and nature of our worries and concerns are the same. We’ve literally invented ways to carry around our worries and concerns PLUS other negative stimuli with us. With an increasingly fast-paced world, emails, instant messaging, and smart devices that are always “on”, we always have to be “on.” –Always ready, always anxious. However, peace of mind is something we naturally need to have more of in our lives.…
Seven Things We Forget to Be Thankful for Each Day
Gratitude and contentment (as in satisfaction, not apathy) are the key ingredients to a more positive outlook on life. Such emotions take the place of envy, jealousy, dissatisfaction, and feelings of inadequacy, which have no bearing on a healthy state of mind, body, and soul. But feeling grateful and content can be tough; it may not happen overnight. However, a great way to begin is through daily recognition of these seven things we often forget to be thankful for each day. 1.Life If you’re reading this, then you’re alive. You were able to wake up this morning while someone else out there was less fortunate. Do not take that fact…
