The Truth About Happiness

No Matter What is Happening or has Happened in Life, Happiness is Chosen Moment by Moment, Hour by Hour, Day by Day.

Being Silly on a Monday Morning

Hey there! Lets talk about happiness:
Always being told to be happy, remember the good, put aside the depression, smile or hug someone can really start to get confusing when you have depression.  Similarly, when you have anxiety being told that you NEED to put aside the worry and look at all the blessings can be confusing and frustrating.

Yes happiness is a choice, but it is a choice to heal and not just push the other emotions down and pretend they were never there.  If you have a counselor, friend or family member who can help you develop skills to cope with the emotions in the moment I highly suggest preplaning for those tough situations.  I use deep breaths, and a numerical system that brings me back down and into the moment.  I reach over (if my husband is not working) and I squeeze his hand 2-3 times, and then I take a deep breath and relax my body starting at my head where my hair connects to my scalp and systematically relaxing every muscle all the way to my toes.  I get present, in my body and then I make a mental list, or a physical list of 5 things that I need to do and 3 things I have already done.  And then I continue with my day.

My Son is NOT a Fan of Photos

If I am having a day where depression is eating away at my ability to DO anything, I make a list of things I absolutely must do, and a list of things that CAN wait.  Then I get started on the non-negotiable tasks and by the time I get to the negotiable ones I usually have enough confidence to finish, because the bulk of the work is already done.  This basically means that my house can get messy, but I keep it sanitary, so basically toys on the floor and even clothes on the floor are okay, but the house must be swept, mopped and vacuumed regularly for me to have peace of mind.  This means that I may not put away all the clean dishes, BUT I wash the dishes so that I have what I need to prepare the next meal.  This is the basis of necessity for me, but how does this relate to happiness? When my basic needs have been met, I can take a break and focus on my mental state, I can take 3 minutes to relax or 10 min to hold my son close to me and snuggle him a bit extra.  Maybe The depression is still there in full force, and maybe my inner voice has shifted from screaming my worthlessness to impressed that I have pushed through so much already.  THIS is the key: When you push aside the Depression and get something (anything) done reward yourself with praises for what you have accomplished.  Rewrite your subconscious talk track with "You did it again! Look at you go!  Whoo hoo" type talk the drowns out that negative self talk that permeates deep into your depression.

Just a day at the DRIVE IN theater

When your anxiety and/or depression starts asking you what if, What if you are not good enough, strong enough, coordinated enough, take a deep breath and count to 5.  With each number dispute your spinning thoughts like this:
Breath in, one, breath out saying: I am an amazing mother.
Breath in, two, breath out saying: I am stronger than I know.
Breath in, three, breath out saying: My life is my masterpiece.
Breath in, four, breath out saying: My strength is undefined.
Breath in, five, breath out saying: I am worth every breath.
It is important to note: these are MY affirmations and may not fit your current situation, so you will need to tailor them to your needs! 

Happiness is the choice to take your own needs and desires into account, handle your emotional bullshit LIKE THE BOSS you are, and reach for your goals no matter how impossible they seem.  If you want a family, a spouse, a friend or even an animal companion, then you must first focus on freeing yourself from the restraints you have limited yourself by.  Maybe the talk track in your head is learned, maybe it was adopted, adapted or you have no idea why it is so darn negative, but the why and how it got there doesn't matter: THE way you FIX and REPAIR your subconscious is how happiness is created.  Here are some places to start rewiring your subconscious to work for you:

Follow my Facebook to get info as I release new courses on healing
Follow My Instagram for MORE Inspiring Posts
This Podcast is gold if you need motivation in the moment
Watch her Instagram Story, but also get out and move your body
If you have a food related anxiety, check out this Amazing RDN
Looking for professional help in CALIFORNIA?
Looking for a Christian Life Coach?
Looking for a coach who will combine Christianity with Growth?

And that's Just to start you off on the healing process, because once you start... you wont want to stop because: accepting, forgiving, redoing and moving forward rewrites your talk track and subconscious mind, shaping YOU to be ready for all the success that you could ever desire and hope for!  You are an amazing masterpiece deserving of love, life and happiness, and you have the ability and the tools to create a life that truly becomes your masterpiece!
I love you all and wish you the best!