I set my own stage for happiness by taking back control of my life. Four years ago, I stopped smoking, started exercising and grew a beard and it changed my life. I was finally changing from a boy to a man.

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He's not mine, my sister had her first child, I'm so proud of him and her. I just felt like showing him off

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Getting better jobs!

I was always scared of taking on bigger jobs (I work in IT, self-employed) because my mind always told me I wasn’t good enough. I would fail. It would be much smarter if I just stuck to what I knew.

My friends used to joke about my work. They would say: “Mark earns money changing printer cartridges at old people’s houses! Haha! (loser)”.

Man, remarks like that would kill my confidence like my work was meaningless. Even though I knew they never meant anything by it.

But I was changing. By now I felt so good and had a much more positive outlook on life. When my friends made jokes now I just told them to fuck off! I realized I was earning my own money, paying my own bills and taxes. My work mattered! Standing up for yourself is key and a great confidence booster!

Working in my office

It paid off. As luck, would have it a doctor called me up one day and asked me if I would be interested in taking over their IT work. Their IT guy was leaving and they needed a new person.

Old Mark would have said 100% no. Way too scary! But New Mark said yes! I went there and got the job. This was huge for my business. I redid the whole place with a colleague and we did a fantastic job! They are still my client today and very happy. This client made me realize I was good enough to do bigger things!

Since getting that one client by the end of 2013 my company has grown a lot! And I did it all by myself!

Stop playing games and finding love

I never looked for love. Being single never bothered me. I always said to myself it either happens or it won’t. Well, I can tell you now it certainly will never happen if you stay at home and play World of Warcraft in your free time. Not that there is anything wrong with playing World of Warcraft. Man, I loved that game! But instead of working many hours on my in-game character I now worked hours on my own self.

Bianca, my girlfriend, tells me all the time. Positive energy attracts positive things! And I must agree with her.

2,5 years ago, she sends me a message on a dating app. Although I was feeling good there was one thing I was still scared off (read: hopeless at). Relationships and seducing the ladies (lol).

When we went on our first date in Utrecht, weeks later, I was nervous as hell! Sweet Jesus, I hadn’t been on a date in years. I felt clueless. But it was a great day and by the end of the date, I felt that I wanted to kiss her. I liked her a lot and I felt she liked me. But how? I told her I wanted to see the big tower in Utrecht that was lit up by lights. So, we walked there and then I just stood there awkwardly…clueless.

And then she had to ask me! If I wanted to kiss her! Haha! It still makes me smile how bad I was at this. But it also makes me smile that I would have never been there with her if I hadn’t changed my life!

I don’t mind telling this story to anyone anymore because we are together now for 2,5 years. There is nothing wrong with being single but being with the right person I find much better!

Bianca and me after I got more pro at being in a relationship

The latest thing I learned about happiness

Four years ago, I decided to change my life. It has brought me many amazing things that have truly enhanced my life. More confidence, more happiness, a healthier body, better work and much better jobs and a fantastic girlfriend. And I know this is just the start.

Although I have done a lot of this on my own I am absolutely convinced now that being surrounded by the right people is the key to further improvement. One of the things that made me realize this, funnily enough, is Steemfest (Another thing I would have never visited in my life if it wasn’t for my transformation).

Of all the fantastic people, I met at Steemfest, there is one person that I kept in contact with daily. It’s @ezzy. He’s the type of person you want to be surrounded with if you are trying to improve yourself. He’s insanely positive and he encouraged me to write more and gave me the confidence that what I write is good enough. I can’t ask for more than this.

Ezzy and me @ steemfest

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If you are thinking about a change in your life I highly recommend you do it. Life is too short to fuck about. I can truly say I haven’t been happier in my life than I am right now. But there is only one person that can start it and that’s you!

Thank you and good luck!

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