One of my favorite blogs to catch up on is The Happiness Project, a fun-loving look at how to be a happy person and live a happy life. Sometimes the posts are silly, but more often than not I find something really relevant that gets me thinking.
A recent post looked back on the Happiness Project Challenge for 2011. The author posted periodically throughout the year on topics related to becoming happier. One was about knowing thyself. She asks, "Is self-knowledge THE key to happiness?" After looking back on some of her tips for self-awareness -- knowing who your personal patron saints (inspirations) are, what are your anxiety "tells", and observing what you already do to help you find clues to what makes you happy -- a light bulb seems to turn on and she ponders whether the journey of self-discovery is in fact simultaneously embedded with the journey towards happiness.
I have to say, I think it is. Over the years, I've done a lot of self-reflecting. On retreats, in spiritual direction, in counseling, trying out different careers and hobbies, looking at my personality characteristics (Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, even my Zodiac sign), and now in Al-Anon, the more I've become aware of myself, the more at peace I've been. Once I learn something, I can usually accept it. Knowledge becomes a tool to both improve areas I need to improve and strengthen the areas that are already strong or good. In Al-Anon, it's about helping remove defects of character and build on my character assets. In spirituality, it's about recognizing the gifts and talents I get from God and building a life focused on using those to serve other people, not trying to force happiness or force talents that aren't as strong or natural.
I don't know who my patron saints are. Perhaps over this next year I'll spend some time reading about people and seeing who could be on that list. What do I do? I can take stock of those activities too, and see what they say about me. And identifying my "tells" - these are great little tricks to learn more about myself and find more peace and serenity.
Today was an amazing day. No real reason, just a day I felt completely myself and loved who I was and what I was able to do. Days like this are truly the best kind of days. Hopefully I can continue embracing this feeling and ride it out for a while. I know it will pass, because both good and bad feelings do, but for today I am going to LOVE it and love me in the process. Just another step on the road of self awareness and self-acceptance :-)
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