Journaling Prompts, Day 4

[moon_custafer]

Happiness is letting go of what you assume your life is supposed to be like right now, and sincerely appreciating it for everything that it is. So, RELAX. You are enough. You have enough. You do enough. Breathe deep… let go, and just live right now in the moment. What do you appreciate most about your life right now? Why?

Hm. I mean, my life is, like, 90% privileged and 10% awful, so I really shouldn’t complain about anything; but there’s a difference between “I feel duty-bound to appreciate this” and “I actually appreciate this.” I suppose what I do genuinely appreciate is how easy it is for me, partly due to circumstances and partly do to my own mindset, to view my life as an interesting story. Of course that can be a dangerous trick to pull.

Comments

[sovay]

90% privileged and 10% awful

What do you mean when you say "privileged"? It is, for example, possible to be in a demographic position of great social privilege and still have a terrible life.

[moon_custafer]

Well, aside from the demographics, I’m reasonably attractive and intelligent; and my spouse and I own our own home, so at least we have less to worry about on that particular front than a lot of people. If we didn’t own it, we’d have even more to worry about. Andrew, when he’s feeling useless, clings to the place as evidence that at least he was able to put a roof over my head. For that reason perhaps, I don’t know that I can love our home, exactly; only be grateful for it.

[sovay]

and my spouse and I own our own home, so at least we have less to worry about on that particular front than a lot of people. If we didn’t own it, we’d have even more to worry about.

I think I'd call that something like "90% secure," if it was me. I'm sorry about the awful percentage.

[pedanther]

I once read, I don't now recall where, about somebody who tried various "journal what you appreciate about your life" strategies, and found they only made them feel worse, because of feeling bad about feeling bad about feeling duty-bound to appreciate things. And then someone suggested a new strategy: every day, write down one thing that you don't like about your life; and that worked better for them, because what they needed to be able to appreciate the good things in their life was to feel like they were allowed to acknowledge that there were bad things as well.

[moon_custafer]

I agree that sounds like a better plan

[monanotlisa]

What a lovely post.

Oddly enough, I feel the same. I live this good life in a good location with a good job...but if I could swap out this body, I would in a heartbeat.

[heliopausa]

I like "You are enough....You do enough." I do have enough, but I know that - what I have trouble convincing myself is that I do enough.