Recycling is an essential thing in today’s world as we must do our best to preserve our planet, but we should do our best not to recycle the past. Too often, we find ourselves thinking, “if only I had done this,” “I should’ve,” “I could’ve,” “Why didn’t I.” If you want to be miserable, then a surefire way to be unhappy is to recycle your past follies like a favorite song. Don’t replay your past mistakes, it will not bring any joy and will hinder your personal growth. The best approach is to acknowledge your mistake, learn from it, and then move on from it. That way, we can turn our attention to the present, which is all we are guaranteed.
Additionally, we should not be overly focused on future outcomes/events to bring happiness in our lives. If we always think I will be happy once I get a promotion, get married, have kids, learn a new language, travel the world, or any other number of events, we will miss out on the scenic journey that we experience each day! I have struggled in my life at finding a balance between the present and the future. I am guilty of thinking too many steps ahead only to miss the beauty of each day. I am aware of this and have been working to achieve the proper balance.
It is essential to have goals for the future, but we cannot only be forward-thinking, as that would be a disservice to our daily life. I have found a couple of things that have helped me reach a better balance in my life and greater happiness by doing the following items:
- Keep a mental checklist of all the things that I am grateful for and actively appreciate those things each day.
- Show appreciation for the loved ones in my life through both action and words.
- Start each day with a spiritual thought.
- Be kind and courteous to all people.
Now, these are a few items that have worked for me, but there are many ways that we can find balance in our lives, and it will not be the same for everyone. Do not be afraid to experiment, and the worst thing you can do if you are not finding what you are looking for is to do the same thing over and over.
Nunc Coepi 