So… you say you want to be happier? Are you sure about that?
What if it means that you have to get down to the nitty-gritty hard-core reality of you? I don’t mean digging up the past. I’m talking about living in the present. Life cannot be lived to the fullest if you aren’t willing to take a good look at yourself. If you are ready to take out your magnifying mirror, you have to ask yourself some questions.
Question 1: Have you become complacent and learned to accept your limitations? How often do you find yourself saying, “that’s just the way I am” or maybe, “I’m just too ____.” You fill in the blank.
Describe a character trait of yours that you have become accustomed to accepting. Maybe you are forgetful, disorganized or frequently late. Do you simply say, “That’s just me, I always forget something.” Or it might be a little more serious, something that might cause discord in relationships, work situations or discontent within yourself. Arrogance, anger, critical comments, negative vision may be a few examples of behavior that might harm you or other people.
Question 2: Are you honestly willing to change? Do you hang on to old habits simply because “it’s just who you are?”
It may be easier to hang on to the past only because you’re familiar with it. Often, you accept a specific trait because you can’t seem to let go of the past. You’ve been bound, shackled and anchored down to past negative behavior. Sadly, you continue to repeat that behavior even if doesn’t produce a positive outcome. It’s easy to become comfortable with neagtive behaviors even if they are harmful. Maybe change seems impossible or overwhelming. When problems are too big to tackle, it’s often easier to ignore them.
Question 3: Do you want to know how to change?
DECLARE YOURSELF NEW.
Simply by declaring yourself new is enough to make a change. Start by telling yourself, I am a different person. I am not the same person I used to be. As simple as it is, the declaration of being new, (that in itself), makes you new. You feel different when you start thinking of yourself differently. As quick as we are to label others, we also are quick to label ourselves.
CHANGE YOUR LABELS.
It may be a challenge to be on time for your lunch date, or clean the stacks of papers that have been on your desk for a year. But when you stop viewing yourself as “the late one” or “the messy one,” you become free from the chains that hold you down.
If it’s hard for you to be on time, know that about yourself and start getting ready earlier.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is the first step of the personal excellence process.
When you learn how to strengthen your weaknesses- you’ll discover true happiness.
So… are you ready to be happy?