Contributor: Anonymous
“Today, I made a decision: I decided to get happy.” That’s the first line of a journal entry I wrote about four months ago, and today, as I sit here, I am happy. I really am.
For a long time I had the belief that the depression I had suffered with ever since I can remember would never completely go away. No matter how hard I work at it, I thought, my brain would never allow me to be as happy as other people.
Then, through a series of realizations–most of which came to me through books like Neale Donald Walsch’s Conversations With God, I started to believe otherwise. And when I wrote the above statement, I was finally ready to try to experience simple, daily joy on an ongoing basis.
Previous to this, I wrote happiness-related affirmations in my journal, too. Affirmations like “I am happy and at peace every day” and “I am deeply happy. There is nothing not to be happy about in my life” and “I love waking up in the morning and I love the work I do every day” and “I am becoming enlightened.”
Today, my depression is gone. I have simple joy. And I feel closer to God, and more inspired, than I’ve ever felt before.
I’ve never asked for this much joy before, because I’ve never really thought it possible for me to have. But once I asked and believed, I did.
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That is fabulous! I was wondering, during the four months, did you have any big epiphanies or aha moments? Or was is more the daily affirming of being happy that steamrolled into your being joyful? Great for you for doing the work and reaping the benefits!!
It was definitely the daily affirmations … mostly. Also, though, I started taking walks, which was just that last thing I needed to have in place, I think. These days I walk less often but I meditate more, which accomplishes the same thing.
I truly never thought I’d feel like this… and such a high percentage of the time!!
Mollie,
You asked me recently about reblogging my post on revisiting limitless. Our emails don’t always seem to get there for some reason, so I wanted to let you know that is fine or if there is something else I can do or you asked me to do, please just let me know. You know I am always happy to help you.
Scott
Thanks, Scott! Scott’s post coming soon, everyone!
I’m truly happy for you! Reading your post reminded me that I had overcome depression earlier in my life as well – there was a long period in my late twens until my wedding and the demise of my marriage when I can truthfully say that I was a happy man! Photographs seem to prove that self-assessment. So yes – it can be done!
Thank you. I hope that you will find the answers you seek as well.
Getting rid of depression is one thing, but this real delight in life … This is wonderful.
I think I am experiencing some of this now in this wonderful summer with these high temperatures. Currently back at where I grew up and taking it real easy and being as carefree as possible. It’s almost a blissful experience. Almost 😉 But kind of leading the way and pointing in a direction I might be able to agree with 😉