A message an old me left for me in 2017

Just the other day I was looking through my facebook feed because of my friends on there usually post some interesting stuff to learn about. Plus there are always some funny video or stories to read. Not sure why, but somehow I ended up in ON THIS DAY section on facebook. Basically facebook lets you look at what you posted on this very same day, but in the past. And, the first post in there was the message I left for myself in 2017 just after New Year celebration.

"I think at some point all of us have to ask ourselves what is the point of life? What AM I doing here and what is my life purpose? If anything in 2017 I will search for those answers. I will find out more about ME.I believe if we don't find OURSELVES, we can't help others find themselves also. After a certain age I believe most of us think and pretend to know what that purpose is, but in reality, we are lost and confused like most around us."
Reminder to myself
dbjegovic

I know what you must be thinking? I was way smarter back then. lol I am not sure why but I believe somehow I had to read that message again. Because for the entire 2017 I truly was on the adventure of discovery about myself, life, and a purpose I am here. And, it has been most liberating, an eye-opening journey of my life. I discovered much about myself, life, and my purpose here.

Learning about MYSELF- HAPPINESS

The most revealing were the things I learned about my myself. I learned that no matter what is happening in my life I have the control of my happiness. The only way I can be unhappy if I CHOOSE to be unhappy. Other peoples actions always tell everything about them, not me. I CHOOSE not to let other people make me UNHAPPY. And, it was the best decision I ever made in my life.

That was not the case throughout my life. I always took things to my heart and it would affect me. I am an emphatic person. That is who I am. But, I have learned to listen to the individuals trying to make me UNHAPPY, analyze what they are saying and what the true purpose of their words is. If I decide they only have the intent to "steal" my happiness I just let them pass through and out of my body. It was not strong mentally as I am today. Before I would let their words tear me up inside, drain my energy, and make me UNHAPPY. And it was my fault. I let them do this to me, but not anymore.

Now I literally analyze their words and sing Bob Marley,Don't worry, be Happy song in my head. lol Nothing bad they say or do will ever again make me feel bad the entire day. I CHOOSE not to let them bring me down. Keep your negative emotions, thoughts, and actions for yourself. Not WELCOME HERE. So many times my body would be filled others peoples thoughts and in the end their draining energy. For the past year, those kinds of thoughts did not pay rent to live in my body. I went to MY SOUL COURT and the LAW I MADE UP decided they are evicted from entering my body FOREVER. No appeals POSSIBLE. lol Everybody should have their own SOUL COURT. And, you should be the only JUDGE and the LAW. And there is only one LAW:

I will not let you disturb my PEACE, I will not let you make me UNHAPPY, only LOVE and HAPPINESS is welcome in my SOUL.

That is my personal LAW, but guys make your own. Get creative, protect your soul and your HAPPINESS. Like everything in life, my amazing friend's, HAPPINESS is practiced every single day of your life. It does not just show up at your door one day. YOU work for it and YOU protect it every SINGLE day.

How to practice HAPPINESS?

Practice HAPPINESS...Wait, what? You are probably asking yourself the same question I been asking myself when I first heard of it. How in the heck am I going to practice happiness? This crazy Croatian has finally lost it. lol Maybe you are correct, but maybe some of the stuff I say will make sense to you.

How to practice happiness? It is as simple as practicing to become a better basketball player. You simply practice it every day. In everything you do, there is something to be happy about. Let me give an example. Even until this year guys I hated to practice. Even after 15 years of my basketball career. I would get tired, and my body hurt. Who needs it really? Don't get me wrong I would practice hard every day, but was I happy doing 2 times a day almost every day. No, I was not. All I wanted was to play games on the weekend. Skip the practice and let the games come. O how wrong was I? Incredibly wrong.

I had a wrong mindset. My mindset about practice should off be about the opportunity I get today to get better so I can perform at those games on weekends to the best of my ability. I should off not been thinking about how hard this practice is, or how my body would hurt. It should off been about how when that beautiful basketball game comes on Sunday I have done everything in my power to get me ready to perform to the best of my ability. You see I focused on the negative side instead of a positive, and for those practices, I was not happy. I can admit that to myself now. Let me tell you this. For the past year, my mindset changed, I am the happiest guy in practice out there. The only thing in my mind in practice is how I am getting better. And, that makes me happy to practice no matter how hard or how much my body will hurt after.

Let me give you another simple example. Until about two months ago I did not like making my bed after I wake up in the morning. Now I make it with a smile every single morning I get up. Why? Because all the thought in my had is this? O man when I come back from practice my bed will be so nicely folded and ready for me jump and in it and rest after hard practice. Like jumping in the beautiful Adriatic sea in Croatia for summer. That is actually what I think of. I kid you not. lol

You see happiness is all about finding something to be happy about in the things you don't like to do usually. All of you know this song so let's all sing along.

Always look on the bright side of a life. Tu du tu du.. lol

This song is carrying a simple, but powerful message inside.It is really never about how hard it is, but rather it is about our mindset about it no matter what we do in life. And, I can tell you one thing for sure. You can ALWAYS find something to be HAPPY about. If you can't find happiness right now, in little things, you will have a hard time finding it later as well. I know that because I was that person not so long ago. Taking things for granted, not making my bed, not liking practices, and that is not the way to HAPPINESS. Our happiness lies inside us, and only we can make ourselves happy. It lies hidden in the way we perceive the world around us. And you know what is the greatest thing of my amazing Steemians?

We hold the "KEYS" to our happiness.

You hold the "KEYS" to your happiness. You hold ALL the power to your HAPPINESS. *** When we were kids all we needed was a puddle of water to jump in to be happy. We just jumped in, and we didn't think about how we are going to get wet. But rather we only thought about the fun and happy part of it. I think as adults we forget how to do this. Some will say you have to grow up. Growing up has nothing to do with forgetting how to be happy with little, simple things in life. And, remembering how to do this as an adult is a key to happier life. But, in order to find it you have to look for it, and practice it every day.

Practice happiness every day, in everything you do. Because everything in life gets easier with practice. Soon you will train your mind to automatically find it. You will train it to like "practice" and like making your own bed. I will finish my first part of this post with my original quote:

"It is never about the situation around us, but rather it is ALWAYS about the situation inside of us."

I truly hope you guys enjoyed reading. I tried to keep it short and trust me I was trying, but the more I tried to keep it short, the more the words came flying out of me. I had a lot to share. In my mind, I did make it as short as possible. To you who have made it all the way to end, I hope you find some lessons you can apply in your life. We do control the keys to our happiness and it is the greatest realization I came to in 2017 in my entire life. You, me, we are way more powerful than we ever give ourselfs credit for. Believe me, WE ARE.

In the second part of this post, I will be talking about how HAPPINESS plays in my search for my purpose in this life.

Thank you for reading, much love,

dbjegovic 💓💓

"Always remember that you hold the KEYS."

P.S. If you have not heard about the new amazing discord group called The Steem Engine you should definitely take a look. Amazing group of people helping each other become better Steemians and succeed on Steemit. Plus, of course, have some fun doing it.Take a look, maybe joining this success train will be one of the best decisions you made in 2018. :)

https://steemit.com/@thesteemengine