I realized the other day that I am not saving lives, not contributing to anything meaningful, but I am at my job day to day, hitting the grind just to survive, selling my soul. Sound familiar?

Well I don’t want to accept this, I don’t want to spend 80% of my day or life in a place that I don’t want to be at, around people that I don’t necessarily even like. I made a couple promises to myself many years ago and here they are:

Surround yourself with positive people.

Life is short, make the most out of every day.

Enjoy the simple things in life.

Well the above is easier said than done, and my day job failure is not an option, yet how do I let myself fail at my own promises?

Backtracking a bit, a little background on me. I am a successful IT Manager, I manage over 40 staff within 9 teams at a large telecom company, but who cares right? The title nor the money makes me happy, in fact, quite the opposite in the following ways:

Constantly stressed

Suffer from anxiety

Take medication

Don’t get me wrong this article is not about being negative, in fact, it’s the opposite, it’s the realization that there is a problem, that there is ‘something better out there’ and that you should walk down the path and fight for it. If you don’t accept failure at work, then accepting failure in creating a better life for yourself is a non-negotiable.

So I am at these crossroads, reliant on a soul-destroying journey to nowhere and wanting a better life, to feel human again.

How do I start this journey you may be asking yourself? Good question. Below is a personal insight of my journey to happiness, summarized for ease of reading.

Firstly, make good on my own promises:

Surround yourself with positive people:

I have an amazing woman in my life, I support her wholeheartedly, I have good, positive friends that push and inspire me. My family are a work-in-progress, like they say…

Life is short, make the most out of every day:

I created simple goals with daily positive affirmations. Make a daily effort to do more sport, to destress, get outdoors and in the mountains more and to take a breather when everything feels overwhelming. I have also realized that saying ‘No’ is a good thing, that failing at certain things is actually ‘OK’.

Enjoy the simple things in life:

Laugh, at others and yourself, don’t sweat the small things in life. I have my health and I can do anything I put my mind towards. Enjoy that cappuccino with friends, that moment on the couch with your loved ones, that holiday away, suck up all the good you can and record it in your memory banks for life.

Secondly, trust in yourself – you can do it.

Thirdly, if you can plan at work, meet milestones and deadlines then you can plan your journey to happiness. It’s that’s simple, keep positive and make the time to be happy.

Join me on my journey to happiness.

-Secret Writer