A question we often neglect to ask, What makes you happy?

You would think that we would do the things that make us the happiest on a day to day basis, or at least a weekly basis, because that would make sense. Why would we do things that would make us unhappy? 

I don't personally think we intentionally do things to make ourselves unhappy, but unconsciously I think we do not do the things that make us happy. 

A bit hard to get your mind around right?

So let me explain......

There was a time when I had to go to see a councellor, because after a challenging time in my life I found that I seemed to get very angry about very insignificant things. Now if anyone knows me they know that I am quite a chilled person so it wasn't like me to feel this way. I also didn't like it as I was becoming a person that wasn't me. 

When I went to see this councellor I explained that I was getting frustrated for how I was feeling. Then she asked me to write down all the things that made me happy, not the things that I do for other peoples benefit or for any financial gain but things that I do just for me to make me happy.

So I wrote down my list and on it I would put things like seeing family, watching a favourite series, having a bubble bath with my music playing etc.

Then when I had finished she asked me something that really made me think, she asked:

How many of those things have you done in the last month?    

 I hadn't done any!!

I reluctantly had to say that I hadn't done any of them not one thing on my list, and there were so many things on there. She explained to me that if I hadn't done anything that I know is proven to make me happy in the last month or maybe longer, then it is inevitable that I would not be feeling great and quite on edge.

I was surprised how simple this analogy was, and felt a bit silly that I couldn't have figured that out myself. But sometimes we need help and we shouldn't feel silly for asking for it.

Lets do the same

So I challenge you to write your own list. Write down what makes you happy from the smallest thing to the biggest, and display it.

Not only display it but make a conscious effort to do at least two things on your list each week and try your best to revue it at the end of every week. Now I know some weeks maybe more busy then others and one week maybe you wont get to do anything, but as long as your aware of it then that's already a step forward of being more in control of your mood and well being.

Please comment or message me I would love to hear how you have got on with implementing your lists, you might give me ideas of more things I can put on mine :)

Amie

xxxxx