You didn’t waste your day
"I wasted my day today."
Have you ever ended your workday by saying these words to yourself?
Let's dig into this.
You feel that you wasted your day because you're comparing yourself to Old Happy standards that tell you that happiness comes from being productive, achieving more and more, and winning in life's competition. We've been told these things will make us happy — so we make them our priority. Unfortunately, they don't make us happy, and their never-ending hunger for more more more leaves us constantly sprinting towards the next achievement.
It's time to start evaluating our days by a new standard.
For, if you look at it from a different perspective, you might be able to see something surprising: you did not waste this day.
Maybe you tried something new.
I'm sure you connected with someone you love.
I know you made a contribution to the world, through your work, your friendships, your parenting, your citizenship, or your simple kindness.
You learned something, from an article or a conversation or from your own introspection.
You did something caring for yourself: you rested, stretched, moved, or ate a nice meal.
And you helped other people, not only in ways you are aware of, but in ways you might never fully see — the ripple effects of all of your actions touching other lives in countless ways.
Allow yourself to see the truth: today wasn't a waste after all.
For what are our days for, if not to experience joy, love, and purpose?
(P.S. If you want to pay more attention to these moments of happiness in your day, you can use our free New Happy tracker, which is designed to help you notice and appreciate them.) Download it here
