happiness.

Happiness- people are contuously in search of it. Some people seem to always be on cloud nine, while others seem to be in a continuous state of depression.

Now, I would say I'm a pretty happy person. I've never taken depression medication, have ever committed suicide, etc. But that's not to say everything in my life has been hunky-dory. I have gone through events in my life that are devastatingly awful! But I really think that we can control our happiness. We can choose to wallow in sadness, or continue living to our fullest capacity. No matter how you were brought up, or whatever has happened in your life- it IS possible to be truly happy! But in order to do so, I think there are some key points to explore in any individual's life, and if one is not attending to these needs, i twill ultimately result in unhappiness.

• Faith. I believe this is the number one factor in determining happiness. I am a Christian, and I know what I believe. I know that I am a sinner, but I have been forgiven which does not mean that I am perfect, and I have no right to judge anyone because we are all in the same boat. It's each individual's choice whether they want to accept the forgiveness, or continue on in life thinking they are right. But when you put your trust in someone bigger than yourself you are able to accept things that happen in your life, good or bad, andknow that there is a reason and a plan for everything. When you have faith, you are simply better able to see the light in dark situations. Most people that do not believe in God are constantly searching for something in their lives...and turn to less than favorable things to fill that void. I personally believe one cannot be completely happy without faith.
  

• Goals. I think that having goals in life is so important- because constantly striving for something gives you somewhat of an anchor. There should always be one major goal, (For me- to make a living doing what I love- acting) And then smaller goals along the way. (To get cast in this local production, even though I won't get paid- I am getting myself out there, getting experience, and building my resume.) Mini goals are like the fuel that keep you going and working your hardest. (Think- ifI am lazy and don't show up to rehearsals, my name will be tainted in the theatre community andI may not be asked to be in a show with this company again- thereby possibly reducing future employment opportunities.) It seems like a no-brainer, right? But personally, it boggles my mind that people will do things like that. If you are goal-conscious, even things like going to a 9 AM math class that has nothing to do with theatre will contribute to your goal. (If I make an A in this class, I can keep up my GPA, thereby enabling me to receive scholarships so thatI don't have to work and take away time from theatre!) Think of what you spend the majority if your time doing. If it is not helping you reach your goal, then change it.

• Personal acceptance and confidence. If you are not happy with the way you look/feel, you are the only person that can do something about it. If you look at yourself in the mirrorandsay, "I am ugly and nobody will love me." Then guess what? More people will pick up on your attitude and they will feed off of that, making them not necessarily want to be around you. But if you decide to love yourself, people will feed off of that and they will love you too!
  
• If you really want to love your body, don't put things in it that will harm it. For example, if you receive your dream car, you would not put maple syrup in the gas tank would you? You would put whatever makes it run the best. If not, your car will punish you by refusing to run. The same with your body. If you continue to put "maple syrup" in your gas tank, (fast food, processed food, sugary soft drinks, cigarettes, drugs) it simply will not run to the best of its capabilities. And as a way of punishment, it will produce more fat cells, resulting in weight gain, create diseases in the body, or just make you feel lethargic/sluggish all the time. When you feel this way, it is hard to really love your body. But when you put things in your body that it really is craving,(water, fruits, veggies, grains, etc.) It begins to thank you by providing you with energy, better brainpower, ridding your body of toxins that cause diseases, and will get rid of excess weight that is bogging you down.
  
• And as superficial as it may sound- girls-fixing your hair and makeup and putting thought into what you wear will have such a profound impact on how you feel about yourself. Granted, the more you love your body and treat it right, the less you feel you will need things like makeup- (ever since I have become a vegetarian and have started thinking about what my body wants instead of what I want to stuff in my face at any given moment- my skin has gotten so much better, and I feel as if I don't need to even wear makeup alot of the time! There was a time when I would never think of leaving the house without makeup or fixing my hair! ) but still, making an effort to look nice is always a mood-booster for me. Finding ways to express yourself through clothes/makeup/hair showcases your individuality to the world! You are unique, and if you are an actor/performer, you are your own product. A concert instrumentalist wouldn't dream of performing with a scuffed,dull instrument with stains on it, right? So why should you! This is where destructive habits also come into play. You are your own instrument. There's only one of you. Make it the best version of you it can be. (This doesn't mean that every single day you should look like you stepped out of a fashion magazine, obviously. Everyone has their bum days and is allowed them. But not everyday please!)
  

• Passion. It is so important to have something to be passionate about in life. (This sort of goes along with goals as well!) Indulging in your passions brings you alive! Do things for YOU and don't depend on others for your happiness. Of course, others can and may bring happiness to you, but if you depend on other people for your sole source of happiness, you will end up hurt and disappointed. You should always have something that makes you happy regardless of whoever else is there. Whether it is artistic or not- there should be something that just makes you so happy that you couldn't dream of life without it. If you have not found your passion yet, go out and explore! Take new classes in something you would never do, like some unknown martial art, or pastry cooking. Heck, take these classes even if you have already found your passion. Having lots of interests and hobbies makes you more open to the world and whats in it. And being open to many different things, as opposed to living in a closed-off bubble (that tends to happen in the south!) will help you connect with more people and will enable you to discover more things about yourself at the same time.

Things that people think constitute happiness but actually do not:

• Having a significant other. Now I know this may seem strange to say. Especially coming from me, as I have a boyfriend. But SO many people get into a relationship and all of a sudden their entire world is that other person. They neglect their interests and other friends, and live in this bubble consisting of them and the other person. This is DANGEROUS because what happens when the relationship ends? There is nothing left. You've expended all your energy on the other person. You're done. And that is when depression hits for some people. It's also dangerous for people that are continually in relationships- never being single. These people constantly use their significant other as their main forms of happiness, never being happy on their own. A significant other is definitely A source of happiness, I am definitely happy being with Matt! But a boyfriend has never been my MAIN source of happiness. Of course, we are human, and we all want companionship, and if you have been single for a while, there is nothing wrong with wanting someone there- but don't settle for anyone, make sure it is someone that adds on to you as a person-not one that takes things away from you,whether it be your individuality, or just specific quirky traits that you quell just to seem "sane." haha

• There are definitely other things that people constitute for happiness, but I won't harp on it. Things like money, promiscuous sex, etc. all have their downsides and you don't need me to tell you that. But I hope that my blog has provided the tiniest bit of insight. I don't know why I was compelled to write this- maybe some random web-surfer in Wyoming, or South Africa needed to hear it. I just thought I should share some deeper thoughts :O)