Choose Happy
Now before you think - what is this bollocks?! - hear me out! Choosing Happy isn’t about dismissing people’s struggles and I sure as hell don’t think that depression is a choice - if it is, then I’ve made some shit choices!
When I first heard the phrase it definitely evoked that reaction from me, I thought it was some soundbite shite BUT, when I actually listened what it meant then it really made sense. So to backtrack - on my many travels up and down the M4 I try to occupy my brain by listening to Podcasts. I listened to a Podcast called ‘Off Camera with Sam Jones’ featuring Kristen Bell. (Now for those of us who have been living on another planet, or don’t have small kids, she’s Anna from Frozen!). In this podcast, she spoke really openly about her struggles with mental health and how she decides daily to ‘Choose Happy’. I recommend you have a listen if you’re interested - she’s very eloquent and interesting to listen to.
I’ve had mental health issues throughout my life, starting with anxiety and panic attacks when I turned 20 and depression, which have occasionally reared their ugly heads throughout my life since. Let’s face it, most of us have.
To Choose Happy is to be aware of what things in your life can aid your mental health. When you feeling at your best, what are the thing that have got you there, what actions in your life make you feel good? And it got me to thinking, do I actively choose happy? What are my happy actions and do I practice them? What things would be on my list?
I know that there are things that I need to do. I can look backwards at my life and I know what needs to be on my list, and they are simple things. Do I do them? Hell, no. That would be too easy…. In fact there are times when I am so into my self-sabotage and bullshit that I actively resist doing them. What kind of crazy shit is that?!
So here’s my list;
Exercise - walk, run, dance - whatever, but do it every day!
Do Yoga. (this is the one that just keeps coming up)
Eat well - just eat real food, cut out sandwiches and potatoes. (Mmmmm spuds)
Drink more water. You’d think that this would be easy right?
Drink less wine. Find something else to do with your evening…
Sleep. Get to bed at a reasonable time, put down your goddamn phone!
It should be so easy. It’s not, but at least now I am aware. And those days when I am feeling crappy I can go to my list and at least have a path to helping myself to Choose Happy.
