Hi, I’m Sandra. Welcome to The Happyist. Here we transform through holistic, eudaimonic happiness. Best part? It’s easy and kind of fun.
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Nothing changes if nothing changes.
But change isn’t always easy. It takes effort. Courage. Change can be scary. Big change, little change, doesn’t matter. It’s amazing the excuses we come up with in order to not make that change.
For example, how many of us have said, “I know I should drink more water each day, but I don’t have time to go to the bathroom every five minutes!”? Silly and human. But mostly silly.
Change one thing, change everything.
This also can make change seem scary rather than exciting. We see it as a domino effect, where everything falls over instead of a ripple effect, which is much more calm and soothing. Ride the wave instead of feeling the fall.
I grew up in a household where change was viewed as weakness. If you changed your mind about something, that meant you were wrong. And if you were wrong then, how do you know you’re not going to be wrong again. You were punished for changing your mind. Like quitting piano lessons when you’re six and asking for them again at 15 and being told, “You had your chance.” I was six. I didn’t like my teacher. Six-year-old me totally blew it!
You get to change. Your mind. Your beliefs. Your career. Your life. Your relationship. Your friendships. How you manage your money. Your relationship with yourself.
Change doesn’t have to be a radical act. We don’t have to pull an abrupt 180. Change can start small, just by doing things diff.
Like going from a night owl to an early bird. Deciding to drink more water, even if that means having to pee all the time (just for a few days anyway). Letting go of anger and trusting the strength and resilience of our eudaimonic wellbeing. Going from being terrified of our finances to having a weekly date with them and loving every time we open a money app.
It can be as simple as changing “I have to” to “I get to” and seeing the effect that has (and it does have a rather lovely effect). It can be as ego-blasting as downsizing only to see the freedom that brings. It can be as brave as ending a relationship that is holding us back — be that romantic, platonic, familial or professional. It can be as wonderful as deciding to truly believe in yourself, and giving yourself that respect and support. It can be as profound as letting go of perfectionism in all of its forms.
Resisting change stunts growth. And it’s painful when change is forced upon us. But Life, The Universe, The Powers That Be will encourage growth, even if it has to come the hard way. My advice: Learn to feel the nudge before it becomes a shove.
The willingness to change, to do things differently, is freedom. So how can we embrace change in this time that is frighteningly unstable?
Starting June 1st, “Thank You! a 30-Day Appreciation Practice to Deepen Happiness” will take over this space. It’s free/pay what you like. Be prepares for a wonderful shift! xo
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