Once you fall into the “unhappy hole,” it can be exceedingly tough to find a way out, sort out your life and be happy again.
Before I tell you my simple secrets to finding a calm, happy, and joyful life again, I wish to share my past – I was in a terrible mess physically and mentally for several years. In other words, I learned the hard way, a very hard way!
At the time, I had no clue why I was such an unhealthy mess. That, unfortunately, goes with the territory of being in poor mental health!
I used to believe everyone was pitted against me, and I had no idea why – I was never happy.
“What did I do to deserve this misery now? I was always kind, giving, and good to people, wasn’t I?”
Rob H.
But of course, it wasn’t as I thought. I had been a big A-Hole for many years.
I was self-centered, short, abrasive, rude, demanding, impatient, arrogant, thought the sun shined out of my ass, and I was the best!
That behavior lasted from when I was about 25 until 45 — a solid 20 years. That’s a long time to get away with being an idiot.
But, to be fair, I wasn’t always that bad — I had my kind and nice spells too. But I slowly kept going further down the rabbit hole until I got my wake-up call.
The reality that brought me back to reality was a stroke
I realized I’d overdone things and burnt the candle at both ends (as my dear father always told me). If I didn’t change, the candle would soon lose its flame — and it did.
I went from a massive “doer” to an angry and bitter “non-achiever.”
The 15 actions I took to change and save my life and be happy again:
1 — Cut back on the alcohol.
2 — Completely changed my diet and went keto-carnivore.
3 — Started walking every day.
4 — Stopped blaming others and was honest with myself instead.
5 — Entirely changed my workout routine from the gym to activities in nature.
6 — I left the USA and moved to a tropical country to live in warm weather, which I love.
7 — Meditated and talked to myself positively daily.
8 — Studied nutrition
9 — Read several self-help books that inspired me to stay the course.
10 — Started helping other people live better lives.
11 — I discovered I have a writing gift and became an online writer.
12 — Stopped partying and wasting money.
13 — Focused on being calm, empathetic, and caring
14 — Gave my time to others for free.
15 — Completely changed my career and started over.
That’s what I did. It didn’t happen overnight — it took a couple of years to get to where I am today – happy and content. But I did it, and so can you, if you look in the mirror, understand and accept your problem, and get busy improving yourself with self-help, care, and compassion for yourself and others
Please also take a moment to read my related story:
Check out my YouTube Video: Walking Around Beautiful Phnom Penh and Training in the Sun Tanking Up My Vital Vitamin D!
Final Thoughts
I always keep a watchful eye on my behavior, actions, and speech. It’s easy to slip back into your bad old habits if you are not fully self-aware.
That’s why you must be your hawk in the sky, guiding you the right way.
Nobody else will — it’s up to you and your responsibility to create peace, happiness, health, and a life you love.
Rob