Don’t Threaten Your Happiness:
A Short Guide to Preserving Your Joy
In the relentless pursuit of balance and happiness, it’s easy to become your own biggest obstacle and I have at times fell victim to standing in my own way. At Onyx and Milk, we believe in designing a life that not only accommodates happiness but actively generates it. Here are four common ways you might be threatening your happiness and how you can turn those threats into opportunities for joy:
Overcommitting Yourself:
• The Threat: Saying “yes” too often can lead to burnout and stress, diminishing the quality of your life and the time available for activities that genuinely bring you joy. At times I have had to acknowledge that I just don’t have enough ‘bandwidth’ to handle anything more.
• The Solution: Practice the art of saying “no.” Be selective with your commitments and prioritize activities that align with your values and increase your happiness. This isn’t just about avoiding burnout, but about making room to flourish.
2. Sticking to Comfort:
• The Threat: Comfort zones are safe, predictable spaces. However, they often prevent growth by creating boundaries around our experiences.
• The Solution: Challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone at least once a week. Whether it’s trying a new hobby, meeting new people, or exploring a new place, these experiences can lead to personal growth and unexpected happiness.
3. Neglecting Self-Care:
• The Threat: It’s often easy to put personal needs on the back burner in the rush of daily responsibilities. Neglecting self-care can lead to a depletion in mental, physical, and emotional health.
• The Solution: Integrate self-care into your daily routine. Start with something small, like meditating for five minutes a day or a nightly skincare routine. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s necessary for maintaining your happiness. If you can’t make time for you, you can’t expect other people to create time for you.
4. Dwelling on the Past:
• The Threat: Holding on to past mistakes or old grudges can steal your present contentment. Letting these go is essential but often overlooked.
• The Solution: Embrace forgiveness, both towards yourself and others. Understand that the path to happiness is about moving forward and learning from the past, not living in it. Start a gratitude journal to focus on the positives of today.
By recognizing these happiness threats and implementing these solutions, you can create a more joyful, balanced life. At Onyx and Milk, we’re here to guide you through each step of your journey and ours to lasting happiness. Embrace the balance, enjoy the milk (of human kindness), and let your life be as onyx-strong and smooth as it is meant to be. Design balance in your life, and live the happiness that it affords.