Its easy for me to say it hasn’t been week of even my month. In the last month I have had an extreme amount of stress from school, a family emergency, a few personal issues that affected my mood, and to top it all of I got the stomach bug that was going around. It’s easy to fall into a spiral of negativity, but what does that help? That is why my Independent Learning Project for finding what makes me happy has been almost a saving grace. Being able to experiment with different things and having an excuse to really focus on me for a few hours a week has really helped me this last month.
I’m not going to lie I spent my hours this week for this project alone, sitting in my favorite place, thinking and trying to figure out what truly makes me happy. One of the things I discovered about myself is I am happiest when I can make other people happy. I love seeing the people I love happy and I will do just about anything to help them be happy. One of the best things I learned from this is that when I am sad looking at the happiness in my friend’s or family member’s lives. It is easy to focus on the negative going on around you, but when you take time to focus on the positives it can make all the difference.
After I thought about what helps make me happier when I’m feeling down I took to the internet to look at different articles and videos about happiness. The first video I came across was a TED Talk called, “What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness.” This study showed that people who valued their relationships with others were happier than those who focused more on wealth or fame. I think it is a good lesson for everyone to learn. The people you love will be there for you until the end, your money or fame can come and go. It is important to invest in what is truly important in life.
What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness
Sydnie Hiemstra 
I think it is really easy to get yourself sucked into what’s going on around you. I found myself in a slump this week too, I also had a few family emergencies myself. Here’s to a better week for us both!
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Everyone should take the time to find out what truly makes them happy! Great idea for an independent project and great post! I look forward to reading more as this project progresses.
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I have watched that TED talk. It was good. Sometimes it does help to focus on other people and take your mind off of your own funk.
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It seems to me that a lot of us have had a down week full of stress and misfortune. But we always find a reason to smile in the end. Setting time to yourself and allowing you to brainstorm ideas, is a great way to make you happier. I used meditation to get me through this week because I had to deal with losing a family member. If all fails, always resort to meditation and give yourself a chance to let go of your troubles.
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It’s so easy to get stressed and overwhelmed by life. I always tell myself I’m going to make time for something I enjoy like going for a walk or reading a book, but then the week starts and it just never happens. I am excited to hear more about your project and learn some strategies from you!
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How interesting! I guess this isn’t surprising, but it’s good that there is research to back up the claim that relationships are what ultimately make us happy. I learned a few years ago about love languages and try to connect with my loved ones through their love languages. For my son, for instance, it’s gifts and acts of service, so I try to make sure I do something for him each day and get him little gifts (even something as small as a pack of his favorite gum) regularly. It’s an easy way to make him feel happy and loved in a way he really connects with.
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