What does it mean to have a full and happy life? Not just in general but what does it mean to you? I think that for most of us we ask ourselves what happiness consists of. I don't think anyone has found the secret to happiness by starting with that question and following a logical train of thought. Thinking doesn't seem to solve my happiness problem.
A couple years ago I was in a psych ward and I said I wouldn't leave until I was happy and stable. As if I could muscle medical professionals into changing who I was and what I was about. That was wrong. In the time since then I have experienced happiness but I have also been devastated. The interesting thing is that there was a long period where I didn't know what caused either thing.
Acceptance of one's circumstances seems to be a major part of it but if I just accept that my life isn't what I want it to be then I stay in a place that feels pretty hopeless. That certainly isn't going to make me happy.
If I base my happiness on other people and what they think of me or of themselves then I am giving them the power to destroy me. In the moment it might feel freeing or like a good idea but that's just because I am not taking responsibility for my life or my happiness. That's not okay either.
I have been reading a book called "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" and it makes a lot of really good points. One of the biggest points that I have found myself digging into is the idea that we have to care about some things, it's the way we were designed, but we don't have to care about everything. What we care about doesn't make us a good or a bad person but it can make us happier more peaceful people.
