Some of you may have heard about the Coin Challenge. If you haven’t, the concept is to get an empty jar and, everywhere you go, look for lost money on the ground. It’s pretty cool because after your jar gets full, or after a set amount of time, you can trade it in and see how much money you have found. It’s also another way to pick up our planet; we see money laying around everywhere, and now people are picking it up and putting it somewhere.
But all I can picture are people stuck looking down, waiting for something to make us happy and ignoring those around us, the sun in the sky, or leaves on the trees. I can’t imagine spending a year constantly looking for “more” to bring me happiness.
Is found money, worth the experiences you may be missing? And is looking for something, that isn’t yours, worth missing a life that IS yours?
In a society full of smartphones, social media highlight reels, contouring, and high divorce rates, it’s easy to get distracted from reality. It’s hard enough to look yourself in the mirror and see a beautiful woman because, well, every other person is applying filters or has 4 hours a day to workout. Spending all your extra time looking for things around you to make you happy causes you to bury your discontent about where you are right now.
What about your kids?
Do you want your kids to see you constantly critiquing? Will your children learn to only look externally for happiness? Do you want them to see you looking for found money instead of holding their hands and jumping through puddles? How about this…
Don’t lose sight of the life you have looking for “more”.
Take the time to appreciate what you have around you. How can you do that? Here are a few tips:
- Be mindful. You have to change your mindset. Try wearing a bracelet or ring that reminds you to be positive and grateful.
- Find a partner and hold each other accountable for being grateful. Call each other out if someone is being rude or negative.
- Volunteer for your city. Sometimes volunteering your time to those around you (the homeless, domestic abuse survivors, foster groups or animal shelters) can open your eyes to how much you actually do have.
I challenge you!
Instead of the coin challenge, I challenge you to the Happiness Challenge. Find a jar and some cool sticky notes or pieces of paper. Every time something makes you happy, write it down and fill your jar. It’s summertime–enjoy these extra moments you get outside or with your kids. Keep that head up and wait for life to give you those experiences, and when they happen, enjoy them! This life! This is why we are here!
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