Happiness
MY PHILOSOPHY FOR LIFE.
After reflecting about what happiness means to me, i was able to conquer these thoughts. I usually never write. Well thats a lie, i try to write but I’m not very good at it. Instead of the usual process of outlining, drafting, writing, editing and proof reading for an article about being happy and adventurous; i wanted to just dive in and write it as my first post on Medium.
Happiness to me.
The best advice and the one i received most frequently is :
“Do what makes you happy”
This simple phrase has become my own adage for living life. The things you do on a daily basis are going to be what matters to you in the end so why not just enjoy them?
I am a big believer in change, innovation, progress, helping others, adventure and just pure fun. The big enemy of these things: Complacency.
Man, just chase your dreams and let your passion fuel your pathway. Remember, one thing I’ve learned, If you do what you love, others will always love appreciating what you do. Learn new things and never stop exploring.
Going for a run and sitting down by the lake after to reflect on your own day = Happiness.
Treat your friends like family and family like friends. Be there even when they don’t need you. Shoot them a text or a email just saying hi. Call your parents when they least expect it and tell them you love them. Appreciate them for who they are and trust me, it will make a difference. Help someone just because you want too and do not expect anything back. Help on the purity of generosity and ask nothing for return for the sake of good will in your own heart.
Get Ali Zahid’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Remember the time you wrote reflections in high school? I do and i think its one of the most important skill I’ve learned.
Reflect on yourself. Feedback is one of the most important process of creating anything great, so why should your life be any different? Take time every night to reflect. Reflect on your day, on yourself, what you’re doing and what you want to be doing. We always inundate our days with menial (but often necessary) tasks like emails, laundry, calls, cleaning, etc. You get the picture.
Stop for a second and zoom out your lens. Stop focusing on the immediate problems and paint the bigger picture in your mind.That one bad grade won’t determine your future usually. Schedule your alone time; sit by the lake and think about yourself and think about what you’re doing is exactly what you want to be doing. Appreciate everything around you.Think about the things that matter to you and which make you happy. Do them more often.
Make sure the word change is used often in your own life. The change does not have to be used for any drastic content but at least reflect and work towards what you want to be. Stop getting caught up in the small things all the time and dream the bigger picture.
Stop blaming. Take a moment and realize that you’re in control of your own life. Odds are, no one is or can stop you from doing what you love. Its sometimes good to change up the regular routine. Shake it up once in a while and always try to get out of your comfort zone!
I hate to settle. Don’t ever settle. If you don’t wake up most morning pumped to be alive, you’re probably doing it wrong.
A friend of mine once told me (Alex Choi), to take a notable risk each year. He also reminded me that risk could mean from asking that one cute barista at your favourite cafe to go on a date or could range to conceiving a start-up company. In the end, the point is: just do it.
Stop saving all that money! By the time you retire or will be able to use that money, you won’t be able to do half of those things on your bucket list and i promise you that everything will ache. Do it today, but just remember, don’t be reckless.
Take a day off and go to the beach with the people you love.
Learn to care less about what other’s think. You feel like wearing your kick ass blazer to work because you want look like a boss - stop thinking about it and just do it. You still think that barista is cute? Ask her for a coffee. It’s 7 pm and you are tired? Then go to sleep. Not tired enough, go out there and enjoy the night, after all night is still young! My point here is not to always have an implosive action but be confident and fearless. I promise you that no one laughs at someone who does exactly what they want, and if they do laugh; its to hide their jealousy.
Stop pleasing others. Just stop. Are your parents stressing you out to go to medical school? Don’t stress it. Do it because you want too and no one can stop you. Stop trying to please your parents, friends, family, teachers, or coworkers. Learn to make yourself proud and your success will be organic. You’ll find you have expectation of yourself for the things you care about.
Just remember, focus on what makes you happy on daily basis because that is one thing we all strive to achieve as our bottom underline. Life after all is too short, so just enjoy it and never regret anything that makes you smile. Appreciate what you are given and where you are because if you are reading this post, you are one heck of a lucky individual.
“What you did yesterday, determines what you’re doing today and it will define who you are tomorrow.”
