Much like Marie Condo, I took a look at aspects of my life and asked myself “does this bring me joy?” I discovered what brought me happiness—connecting with close friends and my family. Creating brings me immense joy. Cooking a good meal, pairing a glass of wine and treating myself to a movie that I have not had the chance to see. These simple little activities bring me immense joy. I continue to discover new things that make me happy, and I find ways to incorporate them into my daily life. This is part of my daily self-care and self-love. Every day I do something for me.
I write down what it is that I am thankful for. I start my day, every day thinking about three things I am grateful for. Thinking about these things when I start my day, I am always beginning a new day with a positive attitude, ready to take on whatever lies ahead. Much like Olaf, I call this focusing on what I can control. I have anxiety, I tend to overthink every situation I am in. Through taking a step back and shifting my focus, I am able to control those impaling thoughts and shift them back to what I can control. You know that downward spiral negative thoughts tend to have? You know what I am talking about. Where at first you think of some minor inconvenience, and all of a sudden it seems that the world is ending? Did you know that it takes 10 minutes for a negative thought to take route in your mind to the point that it begins to spiral? Ten minutes. That is ten minutes where YOU have the ability and the control to overpower this thought and shift focus. But WOW, is it not easy. It takes time to identify these detrimental thoughts, and strength to overpower them. Much like a Patronus in Harry Potter, it takes strong happy though to overpower the darkness. It is a skill I have constantly been developing and working. I am getting better and better every day. I am making progress, and I am so proud at how far I have come.
I realized what is bad and toxic in my life, and I got rid of it: toxic people, situations and relationships. After much needed prayer and time with myself, I began to realize what aspects of my life were beneficial to my well-being and my growth, and what was not. I do not have time for people in my life who do not value my worth. With that being said, I am SUCH a people person. I put my heart and soul into my close personal relationships. My kindness gets taken advantage of. I am a people pleaser, often putting others needs before my own. This drains my energy, and if my relationships do not encourage me and fuel me back up, just continue to drain me until I have nothing left to give, then it is not beneficial to me. When I got myself out of these toxic situations, I felt free. I felt a weight physically lift off my shoulders. Through standing up for myself and leaving, I am putting my well-being first. I can sleep at night. I understand my value and my worth as an individual and as a friend. I know what I have to offer, and no one can make me feel less than. Taking charge of my relationships, how I am treated and walking away from when I know I deserve better has helped me so incredibly much in my journey of self-love.
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