I met someone this week that changed my perspective on life.
It was myself.
In a city of more than 7 million people, I managed to get lost in the daily grind. Wake up, go here, write a story, run run run, sleep. Start over.
I forgot that my tasks are a part of my life, but they don’t define me. So I set out to re-find myself. Here are five things that changed my perspective:
1. Get away. It’s hard to figure out where you are if you’re always in your usual settings. Head to a park or somewhere else peaceful where you can just think. Even if it’s only for 10 minutes, it will help immensely. Oh, and put your phone on silent. The world can wait for a little bit.
2. Do something that makes you happy, especially if you haven’t done it in a while. Do you have a passion for dancing to ABBA? Decorating cakes? Kicking around a football? Figure it out and do it!
3. Reach out to someone from your past that meant a lot to you and tell them. It will only take you five minutes to write them a simple message on Facebook. Being grateful will brighten your day and probably their day too.
4. Find photos you cherish. Remember that great school dance or the time you and your roommate dressed up in elephant costumes (hey Libs!). Put the photos where you can see them often.5. Write down where you’re at in life and where you want to be. Are you happy? If not, why not? What’s it going to take to get there?
Confession time: I don’t have myself all figured out yet. Half the fun of life is discovering who you are and what you’re meant to be. However, if you ever feel like a robot simply going through the motions, don’t forget to take a step back and evaluate your path.
A wonderful man, Gordon B. Hinckley, said,
“Life is meant to be enjoyed, not just endured.”
That doesn’t mean every moment will be absolute bliss. However, my grandma taught me that if you feel devoid of happiness, you’re doing life wrong. It’s never too late to discover or rediscover your bliss.
