Happiness.

"When you lose yourself, you find the key to paradise." ~ Knee Deep, Zac Brown Band

This phrase runs through my mind often. Sometimes, it really does take losing who you are and becoming lost to actually become happy. I know it probably sounds weird, but have you ever felt like everything that could be is against you? Have you ever felt that regardless of what you do, you'll never be good enough? Have you ever questioned everything you know, believe in, and then questioned why you're how you are? And then, maybe you decided to change because who you are on the outside is not who you want to be? You realized you were just living to please everyone else.

When you lose yourself, these are the kinds of thoughts that run through your mind. You reevaluate who you are and who've you been. You think of what you've always wanted to do, what you were always scared to do, and you know what? You go out and do it. You decide your happiness and your goals and dreams and wishes are just as important as anyone else's. You realize you have one life, no second chances to redo things in the past. The past is the past. You can't change it, but you can learn from it. You can learn to let it not repeat itself. 
Have you ever wanted to dye your hair, get a piercing, tell someone what's really on your mind, change your style, change your hair? What's stopping you? People's opinions? If that's it, well, then you better go do it. What people think of you should NOT matter and should not influence how you live YOUR life. If that's not what is stopping you, what is, fear? Well, good. In life, if you have no fear, if you're not challenging yourself, then what you're doing is not all that interesting. Every situation where you actually look fear in the face changes you. It challenges you to do the things you think you cannot do and proves to you that you can. 
This brings me to happiness.

Happiness is such a simple thing, but we make it so complicated. If you're like me, you tend to put other people before yourself. Yes, that isn't a bad thing, but if you're always putting other people before yourself, then when do you get to be happy? Who's putting you first?
Sometimes, you need to put yourself first. "Me" time is not a bad thing, as long as it's not all the time. When you take a step back and just reflect on what makes you happy and take into consideration your well-being and mental health, your life might just get a little better.
After losing myself (and it can be a long process), I decided to actually look at my life. I found what makes me happy and where. I found out that I love caring for others, but sometimes, I like to just forget everything and focus on myself. I found I'm happiest on the Cape. I'm happiest when laughing until I cry. I'm happiest when I'm on the beach lost in a book or just looking out at the horizon thinking. I'm happiest surrounded by the people I love the most. I'm happiest when I forget everything else going on in my life and just focus on that moment and live.

I challenge you to reflect on your life and to find your key to paradise.

I also hope you have a fantastic week! 

peace.love.happiness.