Life goes on. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that. 23 sucked for me. In the beginning, anyway. I think my 23rd birthday was the worst I’d ever had, and most of it was my fault. I expected too much from people and not enough from me. I wasn’t happy with life. I realized I needed some changes, and I’ve certainly come a long way. With my 24th birthday coming up, I feel strong, healthy, and happy. I’m finally at a place where I’m so incredibly content with life, and it’s the most amazing feeling in the world. I want to share with you little ways you can bring contentment to your own life, so you can be at your healthiest, happiest self!
- Take care of yourself! Sure, it’s hard in the beginning, but in a week or two, even months and years down the road, you’ll love yourself so much more! Eat clean, drink a lot of water, and give your heart some love (cardio). I went through a bad time last year. I let myself gain 20 pounds. All the weight I’d worked so hard to lose, plus some. I was a size 16, obese, and overall unhappy. Now I’ve worked hard to take care of myself. I lost all the weight I gained the right way (see my post titled Operation Health). I’m a solid 12/14 right now, and I’m working on making that 12 fit. But it doesn’t matter that that 12 doesn’t fit right now. Because I’m happy. Knowing I’m doing everything it takes to put myself first is enough.
You come first. - Don’t let the negatives bring you down. Seriously. There are so many people out there just complaining all of the time. I have my complaints too sometimes. But it’s so important to cut negativity out of your life! Whenever you have a complaint, immediately find something else that you’re grateful for, too. Last week at the airport, my flight was delayed, my phone died and I had to charge it at the airport while waiting for an Uber, the wheel broke off my suitcase, and my Uber driver just sat and watched me struggle with my two large suitcases, one of which had a broken wheel. But with all that was going wrong, I was concentrating on everything else that had gone right that weekend. My sister, brother-in-law, and best friend threw me an early birthday dinner. A good friend took a detour out of his day to bring me happiness (in the form of my favorite tea) before my flight. I was wearing size 12 jeans for the first time in so many years. I was warm in my adorable new coat. With everything that went wrong, I was so concentrated on keeping my joy, which set my tone for the entire week.
Be as positive as you can be. - Trust yourself. You are fully capable. Yes, you’ve had help getting to where you are. Yes, you’ve failed before. But why should that mean you can’t do it now? You are so strong, and so fully able to do whatever you set your mind to. I know people who literally talk themselves out of doing something they want or love because they simply do not trust themselves to do it. It makes me so sad. Look at how far you’ve come. Look at the person now compared to who you used to be. If you don’t like something, work to change it or learn to love it! Be proactive and know that you CAN!
Don’t EVER let someone tell you you can’t. If they do, prove them wrong. - Don’t try to find happiness or completion in another. I think this is one of the most important points. Speaking as someone who once had a crush on the same guy for 5 years, I can honestly say that you CAN be happy on your own! Not only can be, but should be! Another person should NOT be the source of your happiness. YOU need to be your own happiness. And it’s actually amazing because within a month of realizing how content I am, everything started falling into place. And it’s amazing knowing that one day, when things take off with whoever the right guy is for me, I’ll be jumping into a relationship already happy, not looking for him to make me happy. Another person will never complete you, nor should they. They should only complement you. As a Christian, I say that God is the one who completes me. If you’re religious, let God be your completion. If you’re not, be your OWN completion. Don’t ever let another person complete you. YOU are your own best bet for contentment.
Let God complete you. He’ll bring you the one meant to complement you. - Love yourself. You can’t give something to others if you don’t have it yourself. That goes for love, too. In order to give love to others, you need to overflow with love yourself. Love begins with you. It has to start with loving yourself. Fall in love with the person you are. All of your imperfections: realize how they make you so unique and lovable and just overall human. I am the clumsiest person alive, and I told my friend that I wished it was endearing. She assured me it was not. I used to hate my clumsiness, craving to be graceful like other women. But that’s just not me. I am clumsy, and I am proud of it. If I wasn’t clumsy, I wouldn’t be me. She eventually told me in a moment of heartfelt conversation that the most endearing thing about me is my kindness. I’m not perfect. I PMS about once a month. But my ability to love myself pours out onto others in the way I know best, which is being as kind as I can to others. Offering a smile, paying for the person behind me in the drive thru, even just saying hello to a stranger. All of these things stem from a place of loving yourself. Love yourself, and loving others will follow.
Loving yourself is easy. You just have to know that you ARE worth it.
There are so many other keys to contentment that come on the road of self-discovery. They come as keys that are unique to you, things I cannot share because they would not work for you. Once you get that feeling though, that feeling that you are absolutely satisfied and happy with yourself and everything around you, nothing can overcome it. Contentment stays when the circumstances stink. Dig into yourself, and find that place of joy. And when you find it, don’t let it go because it is so absolutely precious.
I love you all, and hope you find your contentment. It’s so close. Reach for it.
Wishing you all happy, healthy, and content lives.
Love always,
Madeline
madeline's mischief 