Let "Happy" Happen

I’ve spent too many years of my life stuck in the very unfortunate “I’ll be happy when…” mindset. It starts with pinpointing some insignificant, less-than-perfect detail of my life (i.e. braces, acne, unrequited feelings) and ends with letting my happiness become completely contingent upon the resolution of that one issue. The constant mantra of “I’ll be confident when I get my braces off,” or “I’ll feel beautiful when I have clear skin,” or “I’ll finally be happy when I get a boyfriend” became second nature, habitual. It was toxic. When I finally got my braces off, there was something else waiting just around the corner to make me feel insecure. Whenever my skin was temporarily pimple-free, I found some other physical feature to scrutinize. And when I found out a boy liked me, it was never as fulfilling as I’d imagined. I was never satisfied. It was a vicious cycle of discontentedness. I was postponing my happiness, and it was nowhere in the foreseeable future.

After lots of emotional stress during my freshman year at UGA, I finally turned to the One I should have been focused on all along. I prayed about what I should do about dating, and thanks to a spectacular bible study, I knew how to listen to what He had to say. I anticipated His guidance, and He did not disappoint. I felt a very clear “not yet,” and despite all the overwhelming cultural implications about the importance of having a significant other, I was thrilled. I felt like I had been freed of a lifetime in a self-constructed prison. That simple “not yet” grew and developed to mean much more. I don’t need to be dating in this season of my life, this season when I’m still discovering who I am, who I want to be, who God created me to be. I shouldn’t date if I think that’s the only thing that can make me happy; I need to learn to be happy unconditionally. There will be good days and bad days, but I need to rely on no one other than myself and my God for my intrinsic happiness. I can be happy now. Today. And so can you.

Evaluate your life. Ask yourself what things are holding you back from your happiness. Is it your relationship status? Your body image? Whatever it is, it should not have this power over you. Treat joy as a journey rather than a destination. “Happiness is a state of mind, a choice, a way of living; it is not something to be achieved, it is something to be experienced” (Dr. Steve Maraboli). Find happiness every day, in little things. Dwell on the things you love about yourself and your life rather than the things you wish were different. Stop putting off the happiness you deserve. Life has so many good things to offer, but it’s much easier to accept them if you drop the burdens you’re carrying -- and I would recommend handing them over to God; His arms are wide open. At any moment, you can decide to work towards regaining the power insecurities and loneliness took from you, and embrace the positive. There’s no better day than today.

Hey y’all! My name is Jennilee Burton, and man oh man am I excited for all this blog business. I’ve never done anything remotely bloggish before, but I’ve always had a love for writing, which has become increasingly apparent in recent years. Writing helps me think in so many areas of my life, like prayer, music, and (ha ha) Instagram captions. I’m a 2nd-year Music Education major at UGA, a sister in Sigma Alpha Omega (Christian sorority), and a 2017 Dawg Camp Counselor. I love God, people, food, naps, and music. I’m kind of notoriously positive. If I’m not laughing, I’m probably sleeping. I love seeking out the good in every person and every situation. In the words of Buddy the Elf, “I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite.” I’m a firm believer in the power of written language, and I’m eager to participate in something that uses that power to spread positivity.

#positivity #happiness #God