HEALTH

Whether we want it to happen or not, sometimes we get into a weird funk and find ourselves not entirely happy. There might not always be something specifically wrong but there’s also probably nothing exciting going on in your life. Don’t worry, it happens to all of us. And it's a sign that it might be time to make some changes to yourself *and* your life. Follow these steps to start:

Find your passion.
This one really is important. Take the time to figure out what you truly enjoy doing. Explore your options and try new hobbies like classical guitar or pottery making. Don't be afraid to branch out and step outside of your comfort zone. You’re doing this for y-o-u, so do it right. And at the very least, you'll have some amaze adventures along the way.

Identify your strengths.
What are you good at? What skills do you possess that make you a better learner, worker, friend or sibling? Knowing your strengths and combining it with your passion can lead to your dream summer internship or help you decide what kind of Etsy shop you want to open. Not to mention, taking time to list why you're so great is an instant confidence boost.

Set goals.
Long-term or short-term, you need to set goals. Having something to look forward to and work towards provides a purpose for your actions. You will be able to enjoy the results created by your hard work a lot more when you set goals for yourself to achieve. Make sure you break them down into actionable tasks, too. For example, instead of setting the goal to "be happy", figure out what exactly would make you happy and build your goals around that like "see my friends at least twice a week" or "spend an hour each day writing."

Eliminate negativity.
Trying to figure out what you want out of life is already hard enough, so you don’t need to be trying to please other people at the same time. Cut out the toxic people who bring more negativity than positivity to your life. They’re honestly not worth it, and you don’t need people telling you that you can’t do something and making you doubt your abilities. Keep those close to you who love you for you and support your dreams.

Don’t be so hard on yourself.
It’s not an easy process. You’re trying to create an entirely new path for yourself and it’s going to take time. Be patient, because it will be *so* worth it once you have a clear vision of what you really want. It’s okay to get frustrated if you feel like you aren’t making any progress. Just know that it does get better and you deserve to be happy and do what you love.

What’s your biggest life dream? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo credit: Shay Mitchell

by Shilpa Raj | 1/5/2019