Your Happiness, Your Control

What do you do when you feel like everything is crashing down around you? What do you do when you start to feel as though nothing you do is ever right? I know the feeling, the one that hits you right after you have convinced yourself you are not good enough. Once you believe that you are not good enough and that you don’t matter, you begin to neglect the things that once made you happy. I know I did. You stop studying because you feel like you are not smart enough anyways. You snap at

your siblings out of anger, and with no reason . You stop going out with your friends because you don’t want to put a damper on the party. You might pick up a bad habit like smoking, because you stop caring for yourself. Along with all this, you ultimately begin to blame many different events in your life that could have led you to this sadness. I thought about it a lot at the peak of my bad times. Why am I so sad? I broke my own heart, and I felt like I couldn’t control my feelings. After months of emotional ups and downs, and months of my family and friends worrying about my state, someone very close to me intervened. They reminded me who I was, and how strong I am. I finally opened up and it felt like all the pain was pouring out of my body. I felt lighter, and I realized that I am in fact in control. I decided to help myself, and I began to talk to my friends more about my feelings. I went back to doing the things that I loved, such as reading, going to the gym, and watching movies. Something people rarely realize is that helping yourself can be achieved by realizing that you are in fact in control of your own happiness, nothing else is. The way you view situations is what matters. Here are some things that I did in order to I feel more in control of yourself: HIT THE GYM: This may seem like a small and insignificant thing to do, but going the gym has helped me both emotionally and physically. It is an excellent way to let off some steam, and I personally feel stronger and more confident after a good workout. If you don’t have access to a gym, try going for a run or a brisk walk outside. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH FRIENDS: When I get upset, or I feel down, I don’t feel like being around other people, and that is okay. But surrounding yourself with a few people that you love can be extremely therapeutic. Your friends can get you out of your funk just by talking or going out for coffee.TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY: Taking up a new hobby can make you feel more fulfilled, and it can also encourage you to put your efforts into something that might benefit you in the long-term. Try learning an instrument, or writing. SET GOALS: Wake up every day and set some goals for yourself. This will give you a sense of motivation, and a clear mind. These goals can be tiny, daily goals such as reading five pages from a book, or the goals can be long-term. Setting goals makes me feel like I have a purpose, which is a great way to encourage yourself. These are only a few steps that I made towards helping myself feel better, and they might work for you too. Remember, you are the only person in control of your own happiness!