The pursuit of happyness is one of my all time favorite movies and I've watched it at least 13 times in the past few months. Chris Gardner (played by will smith) realizes that he is not happy with his current situation and he actively takes steps to achieve happiness. Even though he made sacrifice after sacrifice, it seemed like nothing was going his way. Despite being broke and having no support system around him, he still had faith.
Two things that I admire about the story of Charis Gardner are his personal faith and unyielding pursuit of happiness (which go hand in hand). Although the movie didn't directly discuss his faith, it's clear that he had faith to do all that he did. He believed that at the end of the day everything that was suppose to happen would happen. However he didn't leave it all up to his faith; he actually pursued what would bring him happiness.
Personally I realize that it's that tine in my life to pursue the things that will really make me happy. A friend said to me recently that she wasn't happy with her current situation so she was going to do what made her happy (in her case it was buying a plane ticket to Spain). With that being said, I am actively pursuing my happiness. It may mean that I will make some lifestyle changes but I want to focus on the things that will truly make me happy. It may also mean that I change the people that I surround myself with. At the end of the day I believe in destiny (thus my tattoo). So whatever is in Gods plan will happen...
In closing, I am going to end with some of Rev Runs Wisdom (from twitter): be around what you TRULY want to be around... That's happiness.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Life is Good.
A couple months ago I read the book "The Secret." It is definitely a good read and I suggest for others to read it or watch the movie. One of the activities in the beginning of the book states that everyone should make a list of everything that they are grateful for. Once you do this, you are putting your energy in to the positive things of life instead of the negative. Here goes nothing...
*I am grateful for family members that provide me with unconditional love.
*I am grateful for friends that serve as a secondary support system.
*I am grateful for a job where I am able to pay my bills.
*I am grateful for a functioning vehicle that takes me from point A to point B.
*I am grateful for a plethora of clothes in my closet.
*I am grateful for the education that I have received my entire life.
*I am grateful for always having enough food to eat.
*I am grateful for freedom of religion and speech.
*I am grateful for peace of mind.
My list is much longer but I will stop there....
*I am grateful for family members that provide me with unconditional love.
*I am grateful for friends that serve as a secondary support system.
*I am grateful for a job where I am able to pay my bills.
*I am grateful for a functioning vehicle that takes me from point A to point B.
*I am grateful for a plethora of clothes in my closet.
*I am grateful for the education that I have received my entire life.
*I am grateful for always having enough food to eat.
*I am grateful for freedom of religion and speech.
*I am grateful for peace of mind.
My list is much longer but I will stop there....
Monday, November 2, 2009
Dealing...
I think my quarter life crisis truly hit in May and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't help but cry uncontrollably because I honestly didn't know what was going on in my life. I imagined being at the age of 23 with a career, long term boyfriend, and long term plans for the future. Unfortunately I had none of that. I decided to take some personal time to myself to try to figure out what I was doing with my life. Even though I didn't have a major epiphany, I feel alot better with the direction that my life is heading in. Here are some of the things I did to cope:
1. Faith. Honestly, I don't know where I would have been without my faith. In the past six months, I have been to church more than I have ever in my life (Sunday, Wednesday, even random days in the middle of the week). It helps me realize that everything is in God's hands and that everything happens for a reason. Also, I began reading the Bible more. I found that the book of proverbs provided alot of wisdom and helped to keep me at ease.
2. Healthy Lifestyle. I began to walk with a friend in a local park towards the end of the summer. At first, I mainly did it to get exercise but then it turned out to be therapeutics. If I was frustrated or emotional, then walking was a time for me to clear my head. At this point, I exercise (stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical) 3-5 times a week. Most times it helps me to clear my head from my day-to-day stress.
3. Literature. I began to read alot. I read more books in a three month period than I have since hs. I read the following books: The Secret, The Power of Now, Purpose Driven Life, and Eat. Love. Pray. All of the books were very encouraging and enlightening. They just let me know that everything was okay. Everyone struggles but life is not about the struggles, its about how you overcome them.
What things help you to overcome your quarter life crisis?
1. Faith. Honestly, I don't know where I would have been without my faith. In the past six months, I have been to church more than I have ever in my life (Sunday, Wednesday, even random days in the middle of the week). It helps me realize that everything is in God's hands and that everything happens for a reason. Also, I began reading the Bible more. I found that the book of proverbs provided alot of wisdom and helped to keep me at ease.
2. Healthy Lifestyle. I began to walk with a friend in a local park towards the end of the summer. At first, I mainly did it to get exercise but then it turned out to be therapeutics. If I was frustrated or emotional, then walking was a time for me to clear my head. At this point, I exercise (stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical) 3-5 times a week. Most times it helps me to clear my head from my day-to-day stress.
3. Literature. I began to read alot. I read more books in a three month period than I have since hs. I read the following books: The Secret, The Power of Now, Purpose Driven Life, and Eat. Love. Pray. All of the books were very encouraging and enlightening. They just let me know that everything was okay. Everyone struggles but life is not about the struggles, its about how you overcome them.
What things help you to overcome your quarter life crisis?
Overcoming the Crisis
So, if you identify with the things defined as a quarter life crisis or answered yes to a majority of the questions on the questionnaire then here are five things that may assist you:
1. Develop realistic expectations. Unless you are extremely fortunate, you are not likely to get your dream job right away making millions of dollars. Life is what you make it. Therefore, do the best you can with your resources. Develop a mentor in your same profession that can give you advice. Often times, persistence and patience are both key. Working hard in lower-level jobs, can often times merit promotions to a much better job.
2. Take time to discover your passions. Many people feel like they are in a quarter life crisis because they don't know exactly what they want to do with their life. Then they accept their first job offer after college which leads them in to a spiral of other unwanted jobs/careers. Spend a weekend or vacation figuring out what your passions are and the things you would like to accomplish.
3. Set goals and visualize your future. Set realistic expectations with where you want to see yourself at 25, 30, 40, etc... and make sure these are things that you can control. So, if you want to be married at 25, it's probably not going to happen if you are 23 with no current prospects.
4. Consider changing careers. Many studies show that people will change careers multiple times within their lifetime. Therefore, don't be afraid to make a career change (with a plan of course). This may require additional education and further research as well.
5. Cultivate a positive meaning/definition of success. Even though Drake's song says "I want the money, money and the clothes, cars and the.... I just wanna be successful," you must determine what success and happiness means to you personally. This is something that can not be judged by your parents or friends, but only by yourself. If you can determine what would make you happy and feel successful, you are on the start to overcome the crisis...
For more information, http://www.quintcareers.com/quarterlife_career_crisis.html
Next post: How I personally have been dealing with my quarter life crisis.
1. Develop realistic expectations. Unless you are extremely fortunate, you are not likely to get your dream job right away making millions of dollars. Life is what you make it. Therefore, do the best you can with your resources. Develop a mentor in your same profession that can give you advice. Often times, persistence and patience are both key. Working hard in lower-level jobs, can often times merit promotions to a much better job.
2. Take time to discover your passions. Many people feel like they are in a quarter life crisis because they don't know exactly what they want to do with their life. Then they accept their first job offer after college which leads them in to a spiral of other unwanted jobs/careers. Spend a weekend or vacation figuring out what your passions are and the things you would like to accomplish.
3. Set goals and visualize your future. Set realistic expectations with where you want to see yourself at 25, 30, 40, etc... and make sure these are things that you can control. So, if you want to be married at 25, it's probably not going to happen if you are 23 with no current prospects.
4. Consider changing careers. Many studies show that people will change careers multiple times within their lifetime. Therefore, don't be afraid to make a career change (with a plan of course). This may require additional education and further research as well.
5. Cultivate a positive meaning/definition of success. Even though Drake's song says "I want the money, money and the clothes, cars and the.... I just wanna be successful," you must determine what success and happiness means to you personally. This is something that can not be judged by your parents or friends, but only by yourself. If you can determine what would make you happy and feel successful, you are on the start to overcome the crisis...
For more information, http://www.quintcareers.com/quarterlife_career_crisis.html
Next post: How I personally have been dealing with my quarter life crisis.
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