If you’ve been feeling a little unhappy about life lately, it might be time to remember that everything that’s happening in this moment will one day simply be a part of the past. Try to notice all the signs that life is still amazingly awesome, regardless of seeming evidence to the contrary.
Changes were forced upon me recently.
Some events painful, some frustrating, some just a plain old pains in the bum. Life not seeming to be awesome at all!
Not all change is visible. Sometimes adjustments need to be made in how we see ourselves and others or what attitude we bring to each challenge. Something new and better is waiting to take its place.
It was tough for me. I wasn’t focused on the idea that all progress stems from change. Or good things would come from it.
I wasn’t consciously aware that in losing something that seemed good I was going to get something better.
I was wallowing, as I headed out to the post office. Not taking the time to notice all the things that were right in life.
Picking up the mail, I was focused, not on the possibilities and new opportunities that were sitting in front of me, but on the problems that change had so rudely dropped on my doorstep, when someone asked me how I was; someone I hadn’t even noticed, so caught up in my thoughts was I.
‘I’m wonderful’ I replied, from habit, and saying it, realized it was true.
We exchanged pleasantries and I walked away. She followed me outside and asked if she could give me a hug! Yes, I said. So she did, and also a peck on the cheek at the same time.
I love you she said as she walked away.
I smiled all the way home. I liked the message from a complete stranger that things still were amazingly awesome in the world.
And just in case you need a reminder too…life is amazingly awesome when you:
1.Hug or get hugged by a stranger. Probably wise to ask permission if you’re doing the hugging!
2.Understand that habits of thought don’t have to be forever. You’re free to choose to think something different.
3.Learn that most regrets come from the things you haven’t done. Not the ones you did.
4.Stop resisting what is and wishing things were different. Instead, imagine the ways you can make or do things differently in the future.
5.Let go of time wasters and begin to appreciate and make the best use of the precious time you have.
6.Stop waiting for someone to come along, out of the fog of life and change it. Recognize that the person you’re waiting for is you.
7.Know that giving yourself a positive and uplifting start to your day will see you through just about anything life throws at you.
8.Being fully engaged in your current experience or project becomes a powerful productive way to live life.
9.Remember there are two sides to the coin and learn to disengage when needed, and allow the renewing of your mind and spirit to bring the balance that makes life magical.
10.Experience real joy and happiness from helping others. Lots of activities bring different degrees of joy, but helping others is a big one.
11.No longer allow negative people to have the power to make you unhappy. Removing negativity from your life makes room for more of the positive.
12.Recognize that complaining doesn’t help anything get better. It’s better to let stuff go. Forgive when necessary and stop allowing stupid stuff prevent you from enjoying life.
13.Stop focusing on the 10% of life that doesn’t work well…it’s a mug’s game. You know that before too long you’ll look back on today’s struggles and realize they’ve made you stronger and kinder to others who struggle.
14.Make a mistake and no longer feel there’s something wrong with you as a person. You’re just a person who made a mistake. Now you can forgive yourself and others more easily.
15.Know that if you appreciate what you have in life, it’s likely you’ll get more things to appreciate.
16.Where you are right now is necessary for you to get to where you’re going.
17.Choose actions that serve you and others well, knowing it’s more important to succeed in a small way at things that are beneficial to all than succeed in a big way at everything that isn’t right for you.
18.Recognize that reality is variable. You can create a different reality for yourself using commitment and the power of assumption to make it so.
19.No longer talk about what you don’t want in life.
20.Generosity of spirit is part of how you live your life.
21.Become aware that living a full, rich, awesome life comes from blaming less because you have firm boundaries in place and respect for the boundaries of others.
22.Feel okay with a change of heart knowing it isn’t good enough for you to continue down a path that isn’t right any more.
23.Help someone get what they want, even if it’s a huge slice of pie; because you no longer believe there isn’t enough to go around, leaving less for you. You’ve given up a belief in lack, realizing one of the magical things about life, is by helping others we benefit too.
24.Decide what matters to you in this moment and take the necessary steps to make it happen.
If you’re struggling or feeling unhappy, know you’re not alone. We’re all in this together, working on an amazingly awesome life; trying to stay focused on what’s good, finding ways to feel better and keep on keeping on.
I’d love to hear from you. How do you remember that life is amazingly awesome when change pops up and hits you over the head? Leave a comment and let me know. Every week, I’m humbled by the incredible insights and wisdom that you share.
As always I’m grateful to you for making this such a supportive, generous, encouraging place to visit.
Encourage one another.
Love Elle
PS If you enjoyed this article I’d appreciate you sharing on your favourite social networks. Let’s spread encouragement and support far and wide.
Excellent article as almost all of yours are. I most appreciate how you give actionable ideas and suggestions. I feel renew and rejuvenated in this moment. Thanks
Hi Michael, I’m so glad you enjoyed this. We’re all in this together aren’t we…all working towards greater productive passionate living. 🙂
Remembering that this moment will soon be part of the past is a powerful suggestion, Elle. I have a toothache and it is getting progressively stronger. So I feel like I’m in the midst of having change forced upon me. This means I have to go to a specialist in addition to my regular dentist. That takes time and changes the schedule. And something different is going to happen with that tooth whether I like it or not.
Instead of being grumpy (of course, I had some of that), I’m remembering that everything will be better when I get this and all the rest of my dental work done! It’s relatively easy for me to remember life is awesome because there’s so much beauty around me and I get to swim in the ocean or warm pond on so many days!
Sorry you had to deal with those forced changes. I like the look of your new blog design and the type is so easy to read!
Hi Sandra, dental troubles can be miserable and I’m so sorry for yours. You are indeed blessed to live in an amazing part of the world it must make it so much easier to shed your troubles once you get in that beautiful water.
Glad you like the new site. It’s certainly a big departure and a step I’d never have taken had it not been thrust upon me! 🙂
I quite enjoyed reading this article. For the last 2 years, things have been rather challenging and it feels like I have been walking through a desert! Sometimes, I don’t even think I’ll ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. But reading the article, and especially #16 : “Where you are right now is necessary for you to get to where you’re going.” gives me some hope that at some point, I’ll reach an interesting and uplifting place – fingers crossed. Many thanks.
Hi Christelle, I’m with you kiddo…never seeing light at the end of a tunnel is difficult and tough and tiring. I’m imagining it getting lighter and brighter for you every day and I hope you’ll let me know when you reach that uplifting place. 🙂
I love change and on Friday I had an aha moment when I realised I needed to let go of what I am doing that is not following those heart whispers. When I embrace change I know I am growing. Thanks for the great quotes and action steps, especially 22 and 24
virtual hugs Namaste Suzie xx
It’s interesting Suzie, how we either recognize it as you did, or change showers you with gifts, not all in the wanted category! I think I’m planning on your route next time, I like the sound of it much better. 🙂
Universally, somehow we are all connected, aren’t we, Elle? Although our lives are different, they are the same. We enjoy/suffer/worry about similar things and therefore, what you listed applies to all of us. The degree of what we experience, as in intensity, may vary, but the feelings are the same.
That makes me happy and connected. 🙂
Your website looks fabulous. I am a big fan of “simple” and “white” and love the new look. Congratulations. You continue to be a big inspiration.
Wishing that your woes diminish and your happiness meter rises and rises!
Love, Vidya
Awww thanks Vidya. I’m through the ‘wormhole’ now and it’s looking pretty good on the other side. You’re so right, every life has ups and downs, some more difficult to handle than others. I’m happy to be connected to you dear heart. 🙂
Glad you like the website, of course I owe it all to our little treasure Vanita. 😀
Thank you for this post. This list is a good reminder to appreciate what life has to offer. I’ve realized that change is an opportunity to discover new things about ourselves and that we need to enjoy the journey, even if it’s tough at first. Thank you 🙂
Hi Edith and thanks for joining in the conversation. I’m with you there after my week last week! And it’s always so great when what seems like darkness suddenly lights up. 🙂
Wonderful post, Elle. I love this line, “Understand that habits of thought don’t have to be forever. You’re free to choose to think something different.” I’ve been in situations that have sent me down a negative path and finally realized that I can choose my reactions to what goes on in my world. It ‘all about my attitude. Thanks for the great reminder!
Hi Cathy…I was just having a conversation about this very thing today. Even though we’re practiced at being aware of our thinking, sometimes we can still find ourselves heading down that path of negativity. Hopefully, we’re all getting better and better at stopping ourselves before we get too far! 🙂
P.S. Love your new website!!
Thanks Cathy – it’s certainly taking things in an entirely different direction, but it feels good. 🙂
Hi Elle,
For starters here’s a huge congrats for making such a lovely change to your website.
It looks awesome.And for a moment i was flummoxed,because i thought i had landed elsewhere.
But here i am ..floating over a new looking webscape.
fabulous..!
What i have to comment about ..I’ll do that later i guess.
For now the celebration of your great looking site is enough.
Best of luck
Great site again
Thanks
Mona
Thank you Mona. It certainly is a departure from the old one I know, but something new was crying out to be born, and despite my best efforts to ignore change battering down my door, it somehow got the better of me! 🙂
I am loving the new layout. Very slick.
I love your list. I think that respecting your own boundaries and others boundaries is so key to living a happy life. It tends to make you feel confident and you don’t create relationship problems by stepping over boundaries.
I think one of the ways that I remember that life is amazingly awesome when change happens is that I tell myself, “I get to feel this.” No matter what it is the fact that I am able to acknowledge that I am lucky enough to be able to feel it is a blessing. It is also awesome to not be in Iraq right now. : O
Hi Sebastian..glad you love the layout. What a fabulous perspective on life. I think your are spot on with being willing to feel whatever you’re feeling. I think the trouble arises when people hang on to those feelings long after they should have passed through. We need to copy little kids, who feel things strongly one minute, and move on into a new experience the next. How did we ever lose this ability I wonder? 🙂
Thank you for the inspirational post, Elle. I really like the way you sound and you are logical too. I think any one would realize that life is amazingly awesome even when It doesn’t feel that way after reading your post.
Hi TheSouljah, thanks for joining in the conversation. It’s easy to forget how amazingly awesome life is…as you can tell from my post, it can happen to any of us! I’m glad we’re all here to remind one another. 🙂
This made me feel better today. Thank you.
So happy it did that Sayid. 🙂
Hi Elle, you never fail to amaze me with all your beautiful articles. It is so inspiring and it definitely made my day. Thanks so much for sharing. Really awesome! 🙂
Hello Noah…wow…how encouraging your words are dear one. I’m truly happy you enjoyed this article. 🙂
Perfect for me today. I opened fb this morning and my daughter had shared some pics of her wedding 21 years ago. There she stood on the arm of her Dad, both glowing. He died 3 years later. The grief that I had thought I had come to accept long ago, suddenly revisited and hit me completely unexpectedly. Tears, hearache, disappointment, questioning the why, the unfairness. He never saw the birth of her child or any of the other 9 grandchildren who have since been born. The overwhelm started to set in.. Then I realized that I had a choice. I could continue to dwell on this or I could focus on the memory of a wonderful occassion. The joy of the day.. and feel the gratitude for the happiness my daughter and her husband still have in their lives. For their beautiful daughter who is a such treasure in my life and in my heart. Then I scrolled further and found your post which completed the turn around for me. Thank you Elle
My dear Glo…I’m so sorry for your loss. My heart aches for your grief and yet I also feel that you are an amazing woman to be able to turn your focus away from the darkness of loss to the light of all the beauty and joy in your life. You are awesome. 🙂 . Thank you for sharing you story, I know it will help others who are hurt and feeling the pain of loss.