the fine art of happiness

We all have those ‘moments’ now and again. Where you just want to curl up into a ball and have a good cry. You’re not really sure why but you just do. I have always found it interesting how different people deal with different things in their life. During my studies in psychology, I delved into these different coping mechanisms and started noticing how different people react to situations. My question is, why do some people turn adversity into a positive while others use it as a catalyst for more suffering? Is it about a person’s perceptions? And how do we become more optimistic - can we train ourselves to be?

When it comes to my question, I know people in my life on both ends of the spectrum - one who can turn any negative situation into a positive (which always amazes me), or those where any slight hardship would set them off on a spiral of depression. And sometimes can be on the verge of attention seeking (I’m sure we all know one person like this). I am a private person when it comes to my family and illness (and there has been alot) and I have never been one to gain sympathy out of a situation. In fact, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t mind others sharing that about their family and hardships if they choose to because that’s how they deal with it. But I have anyways wanted mine to be private.

smile, your coffee loves you

I like to think I am generally a pretty positive person. I stop to smell the flowers, so to speak. I take the time to look at life with my own eyes, and also through a lens. Photography makes you appreciate the small things. I have been living in different places for the last year and a half and have made the most of every city I have lived (even if it’s not ideal). I have been more and more intrigued by, as the Dalai Lama puts it, “the art of happiness” and find it fascinating. How do we become a forever optimist? How do we see the positive in every situation?

I believe that everyone has their own way of coping with the bad things in their life and embracing the good things in their life and whatever works for you, is just perfect.