Three of The Things That Woke Me Up To A Happier Life

Like most other people, I have my ups and downs, my battles and challenges, my stresses and my boundaries... I am far from perfect and no where near resemble the Dalai Lama in my holiness, spirituality or inner peace!  I'm not even trained or qualified in any coaching or counselling principles! BUT - I have gone through a very traumatic encounter of mental illness, and I have reached the other side feeling relatively happy and content - in fact I become more happy and more content each day.  I thought I'd have a go at picking out three of the many things that "woke me up" to a happier and healthier life.  I hope you enjoy...

1. Really Seeing The Miracles in Everyday Life

It may sound "fluffy" or a bit hippy chic "out there", but one of the things that has really stirred me emotionally, in a good way, and always helps to fight off any impending blues, is really being aware of just how amazing and miraculous every day life is.  How amazing it is that I breath without thinking, how unfathomable it is that there are flowers in orange, purple, blue, red, pink and a million other colours - but noone painted them that way, they just are, by nature!  How incredible it is that seasons come and go, the moon impacts the ebb and flow of the tide of our oceans and the stars twinkle in the night sky. And finally, how awesome it is that as humans we have the capacity to love!  When I really woke up to just how much of a miracle all of life is, I started to wake up to happiness.  

2.  Realising I Had The Power To Choose

I can't remember exactly when the "wake-up" moment was, I think it was during a counselling session, but at some stage along my journey I realised that I had the power of choice!  It sounds simple doesn't it?  Of course, we all know that we have the power to choose - right?  Wrong! I was living in victim mentality.  I was a victim of myself, a victim of my circumstances, a victim of my emotions and a victim of my mind.  When I really realised that I had the power to choose things started to change.  In difficult times I would say to myself, “okay, I have a choice here.  I can either think of it like this... in which case I'll feel this way... OR.. I can think of it differently and I'll feel better..  It's up to me!” Which way would I prefer to think of it? Or what action would I prefer to take? Which has the better outcome! 

3.  Finding The Right Support

There's no doubt that if I didn't have people around me who believed in me and if I didn't find a good therapist who could skillfully guide me in a non-judgmental manner to "really seeing" and "realising" these things for myself, then maybe I would still be asleep to the awakenings that became my stepping stones to emotional wellbeing.  I was lucky!  I often wonder where I would be if I didn't have family and friends who believed in me and if I hadn't found such an excellent therapist - and I shudder at the thought.. It saddens me that there are people living every day where that is exactly the case and that's what drives me to share my experiences and try to create a great big sign post in the sky that connects people who need support with those who can provide it.