words to live by: do more of what you love

"do more of what you love"

i don't think this is a quote that can be attributed to any one person... i've seen it pop up all over the place, but correct me if i'm wrong! anyways, this is something that i've been trying to prioritize a lot more since the beginning of this year.

i can't speak for everyone, but i've been realizing that in many cases we've been almost 'programmed' to think that doing something we enjoy is inherently not a worthwhile way to spend our time. i've also realized that is an absolutely ridiculous way of thinking. is it not the primary goal of virtually everyone to be happy? and how do we expect to be if we don't fill our lives with things that make us feel that way? i want to spend most of my time doing things that fulfill me and make me happy and inspired. i think most people do, but as time passes i have been realizing that (a) it's something you need to actively work at if you want it to happen, and (b) i haven't really been.

that being said, of course there are responsibilities everyone (well, most of us) must attend to. i'm not saying go quit your job and/or drop out of school... though i know there are people out there who have done just that, bought a plane ticket, and never looked back! i'm not quite at that level of risk-taking yet, but i am trying to snip away the bits of my life that are bringing me down, so to speak, and replace them with things that do the opposite.

it's quite the task, though it might not seem like it. i mean, just do things you enjoy... how can that be hard, right?! and maybe for some people it isn't, but for some of us breaking habits like procrastination and long-standing feelings of obligation to things you don't want - or need - in your life isn't just a snap. it's a process of gradually re-forming your life so the centre, not the outskirts, is what you're passionate about.

because, the thing is, life is going to pass by regardless of how you spend your time. and i can be honest: that thought terrifies me a bit! however, to keep this self-constructed responsibility of achieving fulfillment from filling you with anxiety (because that's a bit counter-productive), my advice would be to start with small changes. changes that will slowly re-construct any preconceived notions of your priorities, and re-affirm the fact that you are truly in control of your own life and happiness (read some more of my thoughts on that here). at least, that's what i'm trying to do... we'll see how it goes :P

overall, actions speak far louder than words... and i think that doing more of what you love is a great example of this :)

read more of my 'words to live by' posts here!

words to live by: i am in charge of how i feel

"i am in charge of how i feel, and today i am choosing happiness"
-unknown (?)

one thing about me is that i love a lot of quotes. and, maybe i've been using tumblr too long, but somehow quote/messages seem to ring a bit more true when they're placed in attractive typographic fashion on ambiguously unrelated (but visually appealing) backgrounds, don't you think?! ;D kiddingggg (half...) but i thought this would be a fun way to share some of my favourites in any case.

anyways, i love the simplicity and truth of this one. because, if you think about it, we really do have a lot of control over the places our mind and thoughts go. we just seem to be prone to relinquishing this control over to the stressors and negative energy that life can bring, and our thoughts can become our worst enemies this way.

our thoughts are, literally, our entire perception of everything. they shape our entire world. i realize that 'choose happiness' can seem as empty a sentiment as something like 'think positive', in that there's really no substance behind it; they're just words. but i interpret this as being conscious of our thinking and moulding it to something with a greater propensity to happiness than negativity. there are times when you won't be successful, of course... but what else can you do but try?

when the going gets tough, it really is possible to re-train your mind to see things more positively and - let's face it - more realistically. we humans are natural drama queens and excellent at feeling sorry for ourselves. some people might be naturals at this 'choosing happiness' business, but i think most of us can admit to falling into negative thinking traps sometimes! i know i certainly do, which is why i appreciate little reminders like this - not necessarily solutions, but places to start.

read more of my 'words to live by' posts here!