I have a pretty good life, however I still have to work at keeping a positive mental attitude. Everyone's life is mixture of both good and bad, and we don't always have control over everything that happens to us. I struggle with depression which I believe is genetic. After I got on a good anti-depressant (which took 3 tries) I found my outlook totally changed. Little things (like eating) became much more enjoyable and pleasurable. My whole outlook improved and life became much more positive. However that medication is not as effective anymore, so I am trying other things. I find meditation helps as well as exercise. I do think we have some control over our own happiness, no matter what has happened in the past. It's not simple or easy, but possible. Lola28 - your comments were harsh and unhelpful. People come to this site for help and support, not to be put down. Junction-guy - I would suggest you sit down and write down all the things that were good about your life when you were happy, then ways in which you can bring some of those things back into your life. Then work on a plan to do so. I have enjoyed your comments in the past, I wish you well in your pursuit of happiness.
The best revenge
by Junction-Guy 47 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
junctions-wife
Life is what you make of it, now with that being said. I am at a point in my life, where I am not happy or sad. I am content. I have a job that I love, enjoying the single life, and I am with my family and friends from my childhood. I look at it this way childhood sucks and adult life sucks even more sometimes. Grandma has told me for years to live everyday as your last. and as always Love Much, Live Well, and Laugh Often! that is our family motto! And never forget to Stop and smell the Roses!
thanks
amanda
-
noni1974
Noni, I enjoy going to my church back in Kentucky, its one of the few things I look forward to.
Have you looked into a church in your area??I've been looking into churches in my area.I miss the sence of belonging I had when I went to the hall.I miss having a place to go where people know me.
You still haven't said what makes you happy.Church is one thing anything else??
-
darkuncle29
Hi JG. I attended a health seminar last week--part of my CE credits to keep my massage liscense. Cutting out 8 hours worth of details, I'll just add what still sticks in my mind.
stress is a huge issue. Elevated stress hormones alter metabalism, weaken immunity, affect brain chemistry, and more.
You already have stress from day to day stuff, your bother's campaign, past JW stuff, and other ((we've talked)).
They were emphatic about exercise: just 10 minutes of walking is better than nothing. more would be better. Leads to release of natural dopamines, relaxes autonomic nervous system. One study was quoted that patients who exercised for an hour were just as well off as patients given prozac, I can look through my notes if you'd like to see this.
Diet is huge. Trans fats are very bad, toxic to the liver, and they don't help our mental state any. Omega-3's and 6's help with lowering bad cholesterol, and help with brain function. Omega-3's are the ones to really go after, as our diet has enough 6's and 9's (mostly)
Also, is the turn of the season affecting you at all?
Personal perspective, what do you mean when you mean "happy". in battling my own depression, I learned to see it in little things; seeing my nephew, whatching South Park with friends, having a batch of soap come out Awesome, little things, not a lot of real world importance, but they make me content.
An attitude of thankfulness, to the universe for the good things, for the happy moments I had in my past, for bits of wisdom learned from trial, to cats and dogs long dead: Thank you.
I also felt better when I took the JW recomendation of simplifying my life. Getting rid of physical clutter, getting rid of "busy" activities, and then adding things that were for me and had meaning, as opposed to doing and doing for other people who wouldn't do for themselves. i'm very picky in who I choose as massage clients, because I can't work with people who are emotionally draining or toxic; I won't. And what I've found, is that the clients I do have, it is a joy to give them what I can.
Somewhere in my post history is a thing called "The Awakening", check it out, you might find it useful.
Have a good one.
-
bisous
JG-
Only you can determine what will increase your contentment in life and how to go about it. When you tire of not feeling how you choose or getting what you need, you will take the effort to change it. Have you ever read The Four Agreements? check it out, it is a simple life model that can help improve your approach to achieving personal contentment. No scriptures or praying required! here's a link:
http://www.miguelruiz.com/fouragreements.html
You are right about the fact that what people post isn't necessarily a true representation of their lives ... so just because you read it here doesn't make it so. Many of us have experienced similar challenges that you mention ... and even though we can present certain happy fronts, there can be more going on than meets the eye.
Oh. And I wouldn't worry too much about Lola either, if I were you. 'Nuff said on that one.
peace. -
Watkins
Hi J-Guy --- I take it 'junctions-wife' is not your wife? Odd choice for a username then, hmm........
Wow, so many loving, concerned & helpful comments & great quotes & thoughts! Out of about 50 of 'em, yes, I'd ignore that singular disparaging note - majority rules!
Hhmm, that elusive 'happiness'. For me, the key to being just a 'happy person', for the most part, is being satisfied. Out of a family of 4 daughters, 3 of us were/are fairly satisfied with life & are, for the most part, 'happy'. ('for the most part' because everyone's life is like a roller coaster of ups & downs --- happenstance, providence, 'unforeseen occurance' & coincidence. Everyone experiences a natural ebb & flow of low & high points.) My one sister, though, has never been satisfied, as I can see; from a small child she was jealous, self-centered & contentious. She'll be the first one to tell you she was never happy, always laying blame & guilt for her unhappiness onto others. She's still forever striving to attain it, though, as if it's a goal to pursue and achieve.
Imho it's not like a prize that you can win --- but it's a blessing that kind of overcomes you when you're satisfied with what you have and not envious of what others seem to have. (the grass is not always greener of course, & everyone has their own set of peculiar problems!) Giving of yourself is always good, in whatever form.
'The Pursuit of Happiness" is just a wild goose chase as far as I'm concerned. Maybe one key to satisfaction, then, is acceptance. Some of the things we fancifully 'wish' for ain't ever gonna happen. This ol' world is what it is ---good & bad, beautiful & savage. We have to make of it what we will, what we can. I think as JW's, we were taught to be SO dissatisfied with EVERYthing that we lost sight of small but significant joys. There is so much more to be thankful for than Overloaded with the WT's love of the Mosaic law & pressed hard with our selfworth-lessness --- our gospel was doom, gloom & destruction --- our 'happiest thoughts of God's new kingdom'! Talk about dissonance..... no balance. I'd read of other Christians' joy and wonder where mine was, what was I really lacking?
We each have to answer that question for ourselves --- insightfully, honestly, humbly. The answers will sneak up on you and will probably surprise you! Something good is no doubt right over the next hill, J-Guy, keep steadily walking.
~only the best to you on your journey~
watkins
-
lisavegas420
Lola28, you can go flip sand and go back to your kingdom hall for all I care. People like you piss me off big time, im just gonna have to do a better job of overlooking it and just consider the source.
Not trying to be a bitch, Dave.....but...this comment caused the biggest reaction....why is that? I find when something hurts and causes that kind of reaction in me...., maybe it's because there is some truth in there that I don't want to face.
Sometimes happiness just comes in "moments"...of time.
lisa
-
Junction-Guy
Watkins, junctions-wife is my wife, we have been seperated for 1 1/2 years now.
Lisavegas, I have had run ins with Lola on this board before. She is just ticked off at me for a whole other issue.
Sometimes I just dont say everything on my mind here just to keep peace in the XJW community, what was said to Lola was a boiling over point for me.
Everybody thanks for your advice and words of encouragement.