It's been almost a year since I started the "happiness project". The project has brought many good things to my life. I feel happier, more positive, stronger, even a little bit healthier. On the other hand I am still chaotic, I still have problems with time management, with procrastination, and with completing tasks and projects.
There are many things that I would like to achieve in life. In my ideal world there would be no stress. I would have enough time to enjoy being with my kids, to do yoga, meditate, draw, paint, read. I would be near nature, climb mountains and swim in the ocean. I would be a vegeterian, grow my own food, make everything from scratch. I would give to others and find a way to help others improving their quality of life.
As I look back on the last 12 months, I realize that I was trying to do everything at the same time. When you try to do everything at the same time, the changes in each area can be so incremental that it can be a bit discouraging. So perhaps it is more effective to tackle one thing in you life, before moving to the next? So where to start?
Well after some consideration, I decided to start with money. Not because I think money is the most important thing in my life, but because I think it is necessary to get my finances under control. My debt, and perhaps more so my inability to get rid of it, causes me stress, sense of failure and imprisonment.
My consumer debt is about 10 thousand usd. About the same as it was a year ago! The main focus for the next few months is to improve my relationship with money, improve my financial skills, and find ways to spend less and/or earn more.
But I still want to focus on happiness, positivity, peace of mind etc. So here is an idea that I think will not take my focus too much away from my financial goal. I recently watched the Ted talk below: Fake it until you Become it. And was very inspired. So I thought that each month I could focus on a quality that I would like to possess, and focus on "becoming it". E.g. as I want to be more confident (energetic, positive, healthy, etc.) I will take a few minutes in the morning to pose as confident person, and think about how I can go through my day as a confident human being.
So this is what I am thinking, although I am still figuring out the details.
I would also love to hear about your own experience with doing a happiness project:) What has worked for you? And what has not?
cheers, Di.
I repeat the affirmation "I am abundant" several times a day, every day. That seems to help trick my brain! If I'm having a stressful moment over money, I just repeat it to myself. Over and over. Eventually that stress goes away. I find that repeating this brings abundance into my life in so many different ways other than just money! Ways I couldn't have even imagined. And, after almost a year of doing this, I rarely stress over money. I went from stressing every day, to stressing once in six months. It works. : )
ReplyDeleteGood luck! :)
PS. Have you ever heard of EFT Therapy? Kind of a strange new thing....Not sure exactly how I feel about it, but I did do a few sessions relating to money and surprisingly it really worked for me. It motivated me, it sparked a fire in me, and almost always proved to help me financially somehow that day. It'd be worth some research, there are a plenty of people out there that swear by it. And its natural, so it can't hurt. : )
thanks Rosi for your suggestions! These days I am very much into anything alternative and new-age-y, and willing to give almost anything a try:) This EFT actually sounds intriguing, I will definitely look into it.
ReplyDeleteI was just looking through the wonderful pictures on your blog. I was also in New Orleans a few weeks ago! And absolutely loved it. I also had these yummy beignets at Café du Monde. I wish I had known that Banksy has made his mark on the city...would have loved to see some of his paintings. perhaps next time:)