Finding Happiness in Everyday Life + Simple Breath Mediation

For years now I've struggled with finding my balance in an ever changing world. Things don't work out as I wished and people leave my life who I grew to love and depend on. I know everyone always says, you have to love yourself first before you can love anyone else, and I've known that...but what does that really mean? I'm finding that for me, through all the change it means being able to build a deep sense of resilience and confidence that no matter what happens...I will be OK.

It is so easy to become dependent on things outside of yourself to define you and bring you a sense of comfort and happiness. A job. A relationship. A living situation. A lifestyle. If any of these factors change (which will inevitably happen because nothing in life is certain and the only constant IS change) you can feel frantic, out of control, unhappy and life everything is falling apart. This is not the case. Nothing is ever falling apart. It is merely re-organizing to allow something different into your life. It's all about your perspective and there are lessons to be learned through all of the perceived chaos.

If you truly are honest with yourself, was that really your dream job? Was that really your dream relationship or were you just too comfortable in it to really be honest with yourself that you ultimately want more? Are you still pining over it because it was familiar...comfortable? Were you just not willing to make the change for yourself? I've realized that more often then not, when I am not pro-actively engaging in life and being upfront with myself if something is working or not, life has a way of shoving the truth in my face...and its not fun. Usually when I'm angry at someone else for breaking my heart (yet again) or letting me go from the job that I thought I was great at...it's really more that I'm angry at myself that I waited for them to take action.

We lie to ourselves all the time because we are afraid to see the truth of a situation. It often times means that we would have to make a change and change can be uncomfortable. So we stay. Because it's easier. Or so it seems. This job really isn't what I want to be doing, but I'm afraid to leave because...well, I don't know what else I would do. I don't want to be alone so I'm going to stay in this relationship even though it's not totally working for me...it's working for now. I can't afford to move out of my parents house and live on my own. I can't. I don't want to be alone. I can't do THAT. She is expecting me to propose so I guess thats what I have to do even though I'm not sure she is the one. I just finished high school and I guess I should go to college now...cuz...thats just what you do even though I think I want to take some time to work and save up to travel to India and do a yoga retreat.

The truth is...you can do anything. You are capable of making anything you want possible in life. It takes a delicate combination of blind faith in yourself and some tough love with yourself to change your habits and get the shit done you need to get done to create the life you want with the people that you want to be in it. You remember that scene from The Notebook, "What do you want...what do you want?!?!" Well, what do you want? Not what you think you SHOULD want, what do YOU really want...out of LIFE! Are you courageous enough to face these desires pulling at your heartstrings and then...take the next step to putting them into action?

It takes you getting out of a victim, blaming mentality and recognizing that whatever you don't like about your life is all your creation. No one is responsible for your happiness, peace and well-being except you. Most of us are too caught up in our egos to want to admit this to ourselves. We have so many mental tricks to distract us from facing ourselves. Get over it. It's a waste of time. Life is too short for you to not be living your truth, sharing your gifts with the world and being fucking brilliant. It means facing ourselves and how we are holding ourselves back. Its easy to want to have the life that looks good on paper...or on Instagram and Facebook. You may have a life that is enviable by all your friends...but be honest with yourself, are you following your heart? Are you truly happy?

Happiness is a choice. It's about finding those things that make you get lost and go to a thoughtless place and prioritizing them. Look at everything as if it were a miracle...because it is. Children understand this so perfectly. They look at everything in life with a sense of wonder. Many people lose this as they get older and some never re-discover it. If you are feeling lackluster in life, changing our perspective could be everything. Whatever is going on in your life, it is possible to find happiness in the most mundane experiences. What is the first step you need to take in order to get where you want to go? What is ONE THING you could do TODAY to move in that direction? THESE are the kinds of questions you need to start asking yourself. You can do this.

One key aspect to getting to this place is becoming present to your life. Many of us are caught up in memories of the past of hopes for the future and we lose our experience of the present moment. Life is happening right now, and every moment can feel magical if we let it. Try this breathing exercise to bring presence to your life and start to feel happier and more content.

SIMPLE BREATHING MEDITATION TO FEEL PRESENT AND FEEL THE BLESSING OF LIFE

Turn off your phone first of all. Airplane mode. Turn off the TV. If you have some favorite relaxing music, maybe classical piano, you can put it on.

Sit up straight.

Imagine a string running from the top of your head to the sky.

Bring your awareness to your breath.

Try to become so aware of your breath that you can feel it as it fills your lungs on the inhale and leaves on the exhale.

Do this for a few breaths.

Then, start to hold your breath for a few seconds, maybe 5, before exhaling.

Try to feel your heart beating in your chest.

This is a miracle.

The beating of your heart is a blessing.

Feel that.

What if you lived with this understanding every moment of everyday?

How would it change how you relate to yourself and how you relate to life?

Feel that knowledge permeate your being.

Your life is sacred.

This experience of being alive is a blessing.

Thank your heart for all the work that is does to keep the blood pumping in your body to where it needs to go.

Keep focusing on the breath.

Try inhaling for 5 seconds, holding for 5 seconds and exhaling for 5 seconds.

Do this for at least 3 minutes.

No distractions.

Just focusing on the breath.

Feel grateful for your awareness.

Feel grateful for your awesomeness.

Smile.

This is something that you have within you, anytime, anyplace. You can access the knowing of your existence as a miracle and a blessing. If you try this, let me know how it went. I'd love to hear from you!

#howtoliveyourtruth #personalevolution #happiness #meditation