Simple Answer to the Question: Why Am I Unhappy?

We all have issues.

Some big, some small, some just the size of Montreal.

But the biggest issue we have in life is very, very simple: we don’t think that we SHOULD have issues at all.

We have it figured out somewhere in our minds that life SHOULD be easier. It "should" be good all the time. The human part of our brain believes that life should be convenient. You may chuckle and think “well I certainly don’t believe that” but please share with me how you react when you are INconvenienced?

When life throws us a curveball, we become unglued. We get angry, frustrated, down, depressed or may even feel hopeless. When life is good, we feel good. When life is shitty, we feel shitty. And the cycle continues.

We allow life to call the shots and dictate our moods, when in theory; if we could learn to accept life’s challenges and inconveniences, we could live a perfectly happy life every single day. Or, we could take it to the next level and choose to embrace the down days as well. Embracing the shit, the sadness, and the lows that come with being alive. 

We could let it flow, and then let it go. I don’t know if you’ve ever had the pleasure (sarcasm) of being so upset that you literally cried yourself out of tears; but if you have, you will have seen this amazing phenomenon in person. We can only truly be that sad, or scared, or angry, until we’ve run out of energy.

Life is incredibly easy (or so I hear) when one has zero preference for outcomes in life. When we become unattached to situations in life, we become incredibly attached to life, to love, and to bliss. Trying to control an uncontrollable world is about as productive as trying to stick to a diet on vacation. It simply can’t happen.

But when we can see value in the ups and downs of life, the lessons that each situation offers and the strength that is inevitably gained by overcoming difficult times: life becomes our playground.

When we can recognize something is “wrong” but still find things to be grateful for, life becomes a blessing.

It’s not always easy making a radical change in your life, but nothing worth having is ever easy. Progress comes from breaking habits and doing shit that is really hard. Every. Single. Day. And the true test is how you treat yourself during the transformational process.

Can you love yourself when you make a mistake?
Can you support yourself when you fall back into old habits?
Can you be a friend rather than a foe when you let yourself down?

The answer is always YES YOU CAN, but the answer of “WILL you” is entirely up to you.

Life isn't happening to us, it's simply happening. We have the opportunity to choose how we wish to perceive these events, and how we want to react to them. Yes, it happens in a split second, but when you practise daily (just like a muscle) you become stronger and wiser at making these decisions.

This is the process of the Spiritual Squat. Embrace the burn, because you know that resistance is the only way to gain strength. Life is all about growth and evolution, and that simply can't happen when life is easy and convenient. So count your blessings, and if you're having a rough day and finding it difficult to find anything to be grateful for: check your pulse!

Sending love & light,
​-L.K.
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