Weekly: At the same time
We all have hopes and dreams for our lives.
And life has a way of foiling those.
Losing your job. Going through a heartbreak. Getting what you want and realizing it's not really what you want. Hearing difficult news. Navigating an illness. Experiencing the loss of a loved one.
In these moments, where life disrupts life, we have to practice holding on to two truths at the same time.
We can grieve what we hoped for. We can allow ourselves to feel our sorrow, anger, fear, envy, and frustration. We can take the time to process those emotions through talking, writing, creating, or movement. We can connect with others who know what it feels like or those who can hold our hands as we walk this road.
And at the same time, we can make the life we have—the one we didn't choose—into a beautiful one. We can wake up and take one different action, even if it's a struggle from beginning to end. We can celebrate the moments of joy and grace and goodness that are present, no matter how small they are. We can make something meaningful out of what we do have, something that matters to us and to others, something that becomes all the more precious for the way it was forged in suffering.
All of us will, at some point, stare down a life that looks very different than we we had hoped. In these moments, I hope you will be very gentle with yourself, that you will put your hand on your heart and say to yourself, "I don't have to choose either/or. I can do both."
Tips and Tools
1. A good life — This week's animation.
2. How we learn it — Changes takes time.
3. Finding courage — The four steps.
4. Spot your patterns — A free downloadable tool for you!
More from TNH
Book — Order New Happy today to find true happiness.
Podcast — Get a daily morning pep talk — in five minutes or less
Speaking — Book us to speak to your team about well-being, resilience, and productivity.
Articles — Read more articles on our website.
Community
What's something you're grieving?
"The job I lost a few months ago."
"My old identity."
"The ideas I couldn't create."
"The family I envisioned in my future."
"The version of myself I would have been if not for mental illness."
"A best friend that I no longer see or talk to on a regular basis."
"Relationships that could have prospered into more if only the other person didn't walk away."
"The silence where his paws once echoed."
Before You Go
The Definitive Guide to Happiness
A groundbreaking new approach based on a decade’s worth of research and brought to life with beautiful artwork, New Happy shows you the proven path to happiness.
No spam, just joy.
