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To Those searching for Happiness:

I’ve learned a lot about myself in the last year.

Most people spend their entire lives searching for happiness. But, I’ve come to realize that being happy or unhappy is a choice that people make every day. People can’t always control their location, situation, or the people around them; but, what they can control is their attitude towards these things and their reactions to them. With all of the sickness, evil, and uncertainty of this life, I believe one thing is true: Life is too short to live unhappy. However, happiness is not going to fall out of the sky. You have to make a conscious choice to bring happy thoughts into your head each morning. And if you are extremely unhappy, then you most likely need to make some changes in your life.

I hate seeing people unhappy, but I hate seeing people unhappy even though they could easily do something about it, even more.

Change is sometimes necessary for growth. Unhappy in your job? Find a new one. Unhappy in your relationship? Make some personal changes in your own attitude towards it and see how it changes or cut the cord and move on. Unhappy with your living situation? move. Lonely? Put yourself out there more or learn to practice self-love and self-value or get a dog. Feel unhappy with your health? Join a gym and actually go or change your diet. Unhappy with your looks? Get out of your comfort zone or try some new styles. Of course, not everything will be fixed just because you decide to make one simple change. However, nothing will be fixed if you don’t make any changes ever.

Searching for happiness means finding what works for you, and no one else.

One of the biggest humps to achieving true happiness is not focusing on what others thing about you. As long as you are staying true to yourself, nothing else matters. Want to dye your hair? Dye it. Want to take a day off? Do it. Want to go on a trip? Go. Want to get a piercing? Get it. Want to stay at home and do nothing? Stay home. Want to post 45 selfies? Have at it. Want to eat a whole order of cheese fries? No judgement here. Want to lose 20 pounds? Don’t eat the cheese fries. The point is, if you are living your life trying to please the people around you, you can never please yourself. Actually, you probably don’t even know what it is that you want for yourself because you’ve never actually thought about what you, and only you, want for yourself.

With all that said, having happiness doesn’t always mean that everything in your life is perfect.

Finding your own happiness means taking the imperfections, accepting them, and dealing with them. It’s not complaining all day or feeling sorry for yourself. It is holding your head up high, thanking God for what you do have, and doing what it takes to become who you actually want to be.

It’s about what is best for you and your mental health, and no one else’s.

People might not understand, agree, or like it. But more often than not, people are going to judge you no matter what you do; so, you might as well do what makes you happy. I know that there are extreme circumstances and that bad things happen; and I’m not saying that you should never get sad or upset about things that get thrown at you. I am simply suggesting that instead of wallowing or envying someone else’s happiness, grab each day by the horns and own it, because you deserve nothing less.

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XOXO