Making Your Life Your Very Own Paradise

I took the picture above a few weeks ago when I was in Ambergris Caye, an island off of the north coast of Belize. I captured this moment after enjoying a cup of coffee, avocado toast, and a bowl of freeze dried plantains. All along side my long-time boyfriend, Keith. After a few days of being back in reality in Dallas (not hating, I love Dallas), I found myself wishing to be in paradise once again. It wasn’t until I spent a few minutes looking at this picture that I realized I already was in paradise. I get to live a life I love every single day. That’s a lot more than most people can say. I will be completely honest though – it hasn’t always been this way. There have been times in my life where I said to myself, “what on earth am I doing?”, “who the heck am I?”, “is this really what I am supposed to be doing?” It took years of mental strength but I am happy to be at a point where I feel comfortable sharing how I got here.

Don’t Focus on What You Cannot Change

Have a 3rd cousin who drives you crazy? Well they aren’t going anywhere. Do you have a scar on your body you will never get rid of? God gave it to you for a reason and there is no sense in trying to get rid of it. Ashamed of your past? You do not have a magic time machine, but you do have the opportunity to paint your future. It is so easy to get caught up in “what if’s” and “I wish I did” thoughts. You cannot change what you did not do but you have control of everything in your life from this second forward. If you are not happy with an aspect of it, be proactive about it! Be at peace knowing everything in your past is a lesson to learn from.

Turn off The TV and Get off Your Phone

After you read this post, of course. These are two examples of how to be completely unproductive with your time. Unproductive activities add no value to your life. Find a hobby, no sitting on the couch is not a hobby, and work at it every single day. Small daily accomplishments will allow you to live a more full life.

Be Happy for Other People

In a world filled with social media it is very easy to assume everyone but you is living the dream. I’m completely guilty of this. I don’t know one person who doesn’t only post about the perfect things happening in their life. Looking from the outside in it often appears our friends, family, and strangers, have it all and we were cut the short end of the stick. Know that no matter what you see on social media we are all dealt our own deck of cards. Everyone goes through highs and lows. No one is living a perfect life. Be happy for the people around you when they get what they want, even if you aren’t currently getting what you want. Even be happy for people when they get what you want. I promise feeling happy for others feels so much better than being jealous or bitter. Your time will come.

Know You Are Never Alone

Feel like you are losing your mind? In a funk? Want to scream at the top of yours lungs? Feel like no one gets you? Think you just caught your very own bug of crazy? You aren’t alone, we’ve all been there. No one lives a completely sane life. We all contemplate what the heck we are doing and go back and forth in our mind about things which are probably so silly but feel like the.biggest.deal.ever. Talk to the people you love, go for a walk and let your mind race, sit in your car in the middle of the grocery store parking lot and stare into the distance for 3 minutes. Just know no one ever feels like they completely know what they are doing. Filling your life with things that make you feel like you know how to do somethings will make you feel a lot more confident though.

Get Over What Other People Think

In my lifestyle I have been called; fat, skinny, chubby, anorexic, thick, bullemic, overweight, underweight, happy, sad, pretty, ugly, beautiful, disgusting, positive, negative, strong, weak, out of control, in control, an achiever, a failure – and more. My point is, if I actually listened to all of this I would be real confused. Know who you are and ignore the rest. Be confident in what you believe in, be your own cheerleader in all aspects of life, and do what feels right in your heart every single day. You will spend so much time building yourself up that you cannot see those who try to tear you down.

Lastly, think happy thoughts. Use “bad” days as an opportunity to grow. Be thankful for the opportunities in your life. Never lose the desire to grow and strengthen your heart and mind, and always remember you are the only one with the power to change your life.