How to Seek Happiness and Get Excited Again: Overcoming a Bad Attitude/Slump

I have gone through seasons where I just felt like everything was work. I felt like everything was a pestering, festering nuisance. I hated cooking, even though cooking is generally one of my talents. I hated cleaning up after everyone, regardless of my neat freak state of mind. I hated taking care of myself, even though I am known to be psychotically obsessed with following a regular personal care routine and getting dressed every single day.

I have experienced these moments of UGH. I can really get caught up in a bad attitude. A day’s worth of bad attitude can taint a week. I swear I create a domino effect with negative thinking.

Well here is the heart of what is on my mind: turning your cheek away from the UGH virus!

I want people like me to look away from the haughty Mr. UGH. We don’t need him. He wants to suck us in. He wants you to get stuck on a downward slope. I say no thanks on our behalf.

I have been contemplating what I actually do to pull myself out of the grips of UGH. I am not an inspirational how to live your life positively guru, so don’t expect me to say eating zucchini bread and mediating is the cure. But here it is, my plain old observations about my plain old self….

1. One thing I notice that is happening when I suddenly jolt back to life is that I begin praying extremely hard and even journaling to God. Some of you may not believe in God like I do, but seeking regular communication with Him changes my life continuously. Being honest and open with Him about everything lifts my spirits. If I sink into a distraction or slump into myself, I notice my moods and attitudes start trying to boss me around. If you love Jesus, my advice is to talk to him about that when you’re feeling like everything is UGH. Something has got to give, and the problem is probably not your problems, but it is you! Turn the right way. If you believe, notice when you’re not telling him everything… notice when he’s not your priority. We must constantly seek him, and we must love him with all of our heart and mind!

2. Another thing that I do is literally force myself to get my personal space under control. I clean EVERYTHING. I ache and sigh through mopping, vacuuming, sanitizing, washing, dusting, wiping, scrubbing, and organizing. I clean my house up, people. I actually do it all. I don’t do one job and call that fine enough for now. I get the entire penny shining. This includes laundry. When I feel like I’ve finally done it all, I feel a mental slot fling open within. I am not sure why it happens, but it really does. A sense of accomplishment in one area gets hope and excitement flowing. You may read it everywhere but it is simply so true. Clutter messes with your head. It’s hard if you live with messy people, and I understand that. However, complaining will not change the situation. If you are very particular about living conditions like I am, sometimes you just have to set thoughts aside and bombard through it, even if you’ve just done it a measly two to three days ago.

3. Especially personal option number three: Give yourself time to enjoy a thing. A thing, as in… whatever in the world you might feel like. Writing, journaling, reading, knitting, baking, walking, photographing, etc. Do the thing that you really like to do, that you’re pretending does not exist in your UGH slump. You might feel like it is this same old-same old type of deal, but you really might just need to be true to yourself and do it. I always feel differently when I finally do the thing that is natural to me or that I internally love. I often discard it in a slump. Waking up my old senses rattles my whole mental expanse! When’s the last time you actually finished a book (if you love reading)? When’s the last time you actually went on a walk and played all of your favorite old songs on high? Do something for yourself. I recommend adding ice cream to the picture.

4. Do something kind for someone else. There is nothing that is as uplifting and exciting as blessing someone else. Write a letter or card full of sweet thoughts and genuine expressions… mail/hand over a sweet little something… surprise someone with their favorite coffee or lunch… tell someone how incredibly valuable they are to you… buy a stranger’s dinner or groceries… offer to help someone with a task like reaching a shelf or putting a cart away out and about in the world. Bringing a big smile and a sense of being loved/special to someone is indeed the most important and beautiful thing you can do! Doing one teensy tiny thing to bless someone else out of sheer love and kindness blesses you too – immediately. It is one of the most absolutely rewarding experiences on this planet. Loving someone will make new life flow through those old clogged UGH pipes!! Moreover, the more love and kindness you share, the more YOUR heart swells and UGH recedes. More is better in this case! If you have the means to surprise two people… three people…. darn, an outstanding group of six people… why not!!!

5. Brainstorm! Here’s an ambiguous one: come up with something new. A new idea. A new motto. A new hobby. A new destination/place to visit. A new recipe. A new book. A new restaurant. A new type of journal entry. A new body care routine. A new workout. A random excursion. A new addition to your daily routine. Seek a new acquaintance. Just go crazy, be wild, be spontaneous! Do something totally different for yourself. Wake up at six in the morning on a Saturday to treat yourself to an exquisite dine in breakfast rather than a Saturday dinner/lunch out. Start a new book in the day and stay up past your usual bed time to finish the whole book before you fall asleep. Eat an obnoxious amount of watermelon on a park bench in your favorite park on a beautiful day. Get all dressed up and go out and take photos in all of your favorite places and poses, for absolutely no reason. Sit down and write all of the reasons that you have to be happy/thankful (be detailed) – you’re alive, loved, employed, etc… explore what is good in your life… and it doesn’t have to be in MLA format!! Whatever you do, let it be new and exciting for you. One thing as simple as this could really make a big difference in your life. This might be a wave of new inspiration/motivation that you need, a splash of refreshment, or an entire transformation… who knows? But do not be lazy and do not shrug it off. Push yourself!

That is about it for now. These are things that work for me. If you are going through a slump… I wish you well. I hope my own ideas and thoughts help you. You deserve to be happy. Do not let yourself be grumpy/depressed/overspent/just feeling ugh for long!! Enjoy your life. How much time we have here is unknown, and ultimately, all of it is short anyways. Live live live! God bless all

Love,

Eva

Why I Have Reasons to be Happy in my Day to Day Life

Blessings are fully bloomed in my life, so how do I keep missing that?

Today I have been thinking about what is good in my life. I spent the last few weeks harboring a rather sadistic and pessimistic attitude. That was really making things gloomy around my house. Everything has been a nuisance lately as a result of my attitude.

I feel like God is helping me wake up from this silliness. I do not even quite know what I have been thinking. Yet suddenly, I realize how many wonderfully exciting and beautiful people and things I am engulfed by in my life! And all of the reasons and sources are found in none other than God.

The first wonderful thing on my mind lately is that I celebrated my birthday yesterday. I have been able to live long enough to stuff another year under my belt. I am thankful that my life has been as long as it is thus far. I am thankful for all of the wacky, exciting, and even painful twists and turns that have led me to where I am today. Although I get discouraged or blinded by minor frustrations and difficulties sometimes, much of what I have right now is what I used to plead and yearn for in years past. I wanted someone to love me. I wanted something to believe in or to find God. I wanted to escape the feelings of oppression and entrapment. I wanted to belong somewhere. I wanted to feel at home. I feel so much better now. I feel that God did hear my prayers and cries. I feel free from much of what troubled me before.

I am loved. My sweet husband, Angel, is appropriately named. As cheesy as this may sound, I feel like he is an angel to me. He is always taking care of me. He tells me he loves me every single day, and I know that he genuinely means it. We have not worn out our lovingkindness. I know that he would do anything for me. I know that I would do anything for him.

Being with him makes me more happy than almost anything else. I always enjoy talking to him. We are always laughing together. He makes my heart happy.

I am also loved by my tiny daughter. She does not know many words, but she still manages to express how much she loves us without all of the grandiloquence. Whether it is kisses, hugs, laughter, or resting her head on you, she makes you feel very special. We are lucky to have her. We are blessed that she made it through the traumatic first few days or her life. She is so healthy, bubbly, and happy now, and this is beautiful. As I care for her day to day, she drains and uplifts me all at once. I cannot describe how exhausting chasing her can be. Yet I also cannot describe how much light, learning, and love she pours into my day. I do not even deserve this little wonder.

The greatest days of my life are certainly right before me. I am always downscaling and downplaying the significance and excitement of right now. I often act as if a day is simple, boring, mundane, or even mediocre. I am often extracting gratitude. I instantaneously strip days of potential and rejoicing. I have the people I love the most in my life. I am constantly under the eyes and ears of God, who I trust loves me very much. I have nothing to fear. The days are here for the taking! I can spread good things. I can give love. I can shed light. I have opportunities to do good, and this is what I am certain I long for. I long to serve, help, mend, and bless. I feel that God intended for me to do this. I want to do that. I want to bless others. I wish I did not sometimes forget this. Sometimes I become selfish and self-centered, and I do not want anything to do with anyone. I am certain this causes a fit of discontentment and depression. Yet I live for these moments when I wake up!!! Forget the lies and excuses, now is the time to love others and embrace the good in life! Now is the time to express gratitude to God by letting my daily life be an expression of what he has taught me.. and what his grace stirs up in my heart.

Oh my,

The little of activities of the day are special even when I forget that they are. Washing dishes is a reminder that I have food to eat and plates to eat them on. Changing a dirty diaper is a reminder that I have a healthy, growing little girl in my arms. Cleaning the toilet is a reminder that I have running water and sanitary living conditions. Aching all over and yawning more than I thought a person could is a reminder that God is growing a beautiful little life within me, a person that we both love so much already. Picking up long forgotten dishes and littered work socks is a reminder that I have a husband that I love more than anything right before me. Washing clothes is a reminder that we have clothes on our back, and the means to keep ourselves warm and clean. Diffusing a mortifying toddler tantrum is a reminder that I have a beautiful, learning, growing, and all the while, vulnerable little girl that I am here to teach, discipline, and nourish into a healthy, positive woman. Taking little Bam Bam out to fertilize the earth is a reminder that I have a furry friend who loves me very much constantly at my side. He is newly discovered source of joy and companionship to little one.

Whether I go to the grocery store or the mountains, I want to enjoy all of the beauty around me. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and it is drop dead gorgeous here. I want to make the most of the time that I have here by exploring and enjoying the beautiful scenes only minutes, miles, and hours away. I have never seen sights like those that I see here before. I am so lucky to see all of this, and especially to share it with my love. The excursions I have went on recently have been very special. We visited Mount Rainier National Park again. We made another fun stop in Seattle. We visited the bridge of glass. Our most recent boat ride was on a perfectly cloudless day. We have seen more waterfalls and rivers. We may even explore Oregon coast again soon. I have made lasting memories. I have taken photos that will never be forgotten. I will have stories to tell my children and grandchildren one day.

There is a lot of unknown in my life right now, and this feels a bit overwhelming at times. We are supposed to move to Germany. We have a little one on the way. We do not know if we will move in less than three months or if it will be later. We do not know if our plan may be recreated altogether. We do not know if our destination may change. We do not know what the next steps are in our life quite yet. We have to wait and continue to follow a snail process that is far overdue to get more information. Yet I will stay confident that God loves me, and that God will guide us through this as we seek Him through prayer. God knows right where I am. God knows just how I feel. God knows exactly where I am going. I can be thankful for the blessings God has saturated my life with.. right now. Today. Right here. I have more than I need, because I even have things that I want.

I hope this post finds you all well. I hope you can count your own blessings today. Even the frustrating or hard things might simultaneously be a reason to be happy. Keep smiling friends. You are loved, special, capable, and valuable.