Happy International Happiness Day!
Hey guys! It’s been a while since I last blogged hasn’t it? I have missed blogging for sure, but in truth I have just enjoyed concentrating on myself physically and mentally without really documenting it. I am pleased to say in the next few weeks I will be posting some new blogs and a VLOG (Oooooh!) about all things CF, Self Esteem, my daily routines and so on! I’m looking forward to sharing it all!
So why am I blogging today you ask? Well, today is International Happiness day! Happy Happy day people! Someone once asked me “how and why are you so happy all the time?”. I didn’t know how to answer that at first, but now I finally have the answer and I am ready to share it.
It’s really this simple, every day I try to choose happiness. I choose happiness over sadness, I choose laughter over tears and I choose positivity or negativity. However, please do not think I am like an animated slapstick cartoon 24/7, because I am not. I absolutely have my sad days. I have the days where I don’t want to get up out of bed, I have the days I feel defeated and I have the days I cry and there might not even be a reason for the tears.
The thing is, because I have experienced some hard and dark times due to my health, I try my best to make the most out of each day, grab every opportunity and do the things that truly make ME happy. Happiness for me, encompasses so many things. I feel happy when I go for a walk in the sunshine, I feel happy when I spend time with my family and friends, I feel happy when I volunteer, I feel happy when I feel positive about my health and my body image and so much more.
I used to heavily rely on people’s approval to help make me feel good about myself. I was so influenced by what people thought about me and often felt ‘sad’ if I was not making others happy. As I got older, I realised something: ‘you cannot rely on another individual, to make you happy, you have yourself to make yourself happy’.
I often get asked how I remain positive whilst having CF? The truth is, it isn’t something that happened over night, it was and still is a gradual process. I think that this is something that applies to people, with or without a chronic health condition. Regarding my CF, I think of myself as a ‘positive realist’. I am realistic of the fact that I know I will encounter some difficult and sad times, but I am positive of the fact that I will get through them. I try and let all the experiences I face, enable me and not disable me. I let it fuel my fire to LIVE every day and not just exist. I think this is a fire and passion most ‘CFers’ have inside them. I often tell myself and other people that ‘a storm can’t last forever, it has to shine eventually’
Here are some tips to feel happier day by day:
1. Surround yourself around family and friends.
Enjoying quality time with people who truly care and love for us can boost our wellbeing as we are living in the moment and truly appreciating the time we are spending physically in one another’s company. Don’t put a time limit on this, and just enjoy and live in the moment!
2. Keep a gratitude journal.
Last Christmas (2018), my lovely Mum got me a gratitude journal. It has really helped remind me of the positive things about my life on the days I don’t feel so happy or great. Every night (if I remember, ha!) I write down the things and people I am grateful for on that day. On the gloomy days, I then go back and read over them and it often makes me feel better.
3. Begin your day with positive affirmations.
I promise you it’s not as cheesy as you think. Every week, write on post it notes what makes you feel good about yourself, or the things you enjoy doing. For example, … I am a good friend…. I am good at my job. and so on. If you’re feeling confident, say them out loud!
4. Spend LESS time on social media!
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good browse through Instagram and Facebook, but I try not to let myself be so consumed by it. We often get depressed or sad at the thought that people are living ‘better’ lives than us, but the truth is social media often is an ILLUSION! Don’t let it fool you. Try have days without posting for example? It won’t go anywhere!
Well guys, I think I have rambled on enough! But I do hope you have enjoyed reading. I wish you all happiness of course! I won’t leave it as long until I blog again!
All my love,
Nubi x
