Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Opinion / Be happy with what you have

Be happy with what you have

March 4, 2019 by Hannah Johnson

When we are college students, we worship the glories of others.

Maybe you’re the freshman art student who sits next to the girl whose drawing abilities surpass yours as exhibited through her magnificent doodles in her notepad.

Maybe you’re the yoga beginner secretly wishing to bend your body in the ways the experts sitting at the front can.

Maybe you’re the single senior who watches all his friends give a ring by spring.

Maybe you’re the student who cannot afford Study Abroad; the one who watches other students come back and tell amazing stories of their newfound knowledge and enhanced spirituality.

Maybe you’re the struggling author who watches people younger than you publish their first novels.

Maybe it hurts you knowing you cannot experience what your peers have.

It’s okay to feel hurt.

But it’s not okay to feel hopeless.

Our minds tell us that we all need to live amazing lives and achieve great things at a young age. We tell ourselves we have to be as good at as this person or go to as many places as that person.

This is detrimental to ourselves, especially when circumstances beyond our control keep us from achieving the same things as our friends.

This keeps us away from the present and from achieving our own happiness.

The truth is that we can be happy with what we have and not focus on what others have. It’s a difficult concept, but it’s true.

Happiness for ourselves is not a destination. It has been in our control all along.

Here are a few ways to take that control:

Start with taking one moment of quiet to yourself each day. Think of the successes so far in your life.

Find peace in knowing that you don’t have what you want now, but also know that life gets better if we choose for it to be.

Do what you love for just 20 minutes a day. Draw, write, do yoga.

Exercise. It helps with anxiety.

The more we focus on ourselves, the less we are intimidated by what our friends are doing.

Filed Under: Columns, Opinion

Other Opinion:

  • Skipping class is a drug

  • Athletics have a lack of traditions leading to low engagement from students

  • Directionless but encouraged: My experience on The College Tour’s film set

About Hannah Johnson

Staff Writer

You are here: Home / Opinion / Be happy with what you have

Other Opinion:

  • Skipping class is a drug

  • Athletics have a lack of traditions leading to low engagement from students

  • Directionless but encouraged: My experience on The College Tour’s film set

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
16 Feb

Black Student Union, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have joined together to plan events that educate others and provide celebrations during Black History Month. Read more:
https://acuoptimist.com/2023/02/black-history-month-events-educate-celebrate-acu-community/

Reply on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Retweet on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Like on Twitter 1626340622872285184 2 Twitter 1626340622872285184
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
11 Feb

BREAKING: Robert D. “Bob” Hunter, vice president emeritus, passed away Saturday. Hunter served as a representative of the 71st district of Texas and worked part time with ACU until 2013.

Reply on Twitter 1624540404690436097 Retweet on Twitter 1624540404690436097 4 Like on Twitter 1624540404690436097 23 Twitter 1624540404690436097

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

5 hours ago

The Optimist
FilmFest, a student short film festival designed to give students who are interested in film production access to a creative outlet, will host its 19th annual FilmFest Gala April 14 at the Paramount Theatre. Read more: ... See MoreSee Less

FilmFest prepares to take the big screen - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

FilmFest, a student short film festival designed to give students who are interested in film production access to a creative outlet, will host it’s 19th annual FilmFest Gala April 14 at the Paramoun...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

3 weeks ago

The Optimist
Scott Erickson, artist, author and performance speaker, visited campus and spoke at Chapel during the Black History Month speaker series last week. His presentation was entitled, "Say Yes: A Liturgy of Not Giving Up On Yourself." Read more: ... See MoreSee Less

Author, performance speaker visits campus bringing a message on mental health - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Scott Erickson, artist, author and performance speaker, visited campus and spoke at Chapel during the Black History Month speaker series last week. His presentation was entitled, “Say Yes: A Liturgy...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 22, 2023

Our top stories this week include the passing of Dr. Bob Hunter, a new endowment ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 8, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved