Bee on a daisy.
Seeking Happiness
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By Tia Parsley, LPC, LCDC

Seeking Happiness – I often hear my clients say their goal is to find happiness, and I always question what this really means to them. It seems many of us seek this happiness, and yet struggle with being able to actually define it. Is happiness finding that special someone, finally getting that promotion, having a long sought after baby, graduation, reaching a financial milestone? Unfortunately, it is not.

Happiness is not a goal to be achieved, and is actually a state of being. It is situational, and like all emotions, it is temporary. Happiness entails positive feelings such as contentment, joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction. What brings each individual happiness is different and can even change with time.

Focusing on building a “happy life” consists of surrounding yourself with what is meaningful to you, positive people, learning to appreciate what you have and what you are given, letting go of things not in your control, and doing things that matter to you.

Not every day can be butterflies and daisies, and learning to accept things just as they are is the real key. Please don’t hear me say we shouldn’t have goals we are working towards. However, accepting where we are knowing we are working towards something important and meaningful to us is what I am talking about.

So, what do you need to do to bring more meaning to your life? How can you be more grateful, and appreciate the things you already have? What brings you joy? What truly fulfills your heart? What can you do to shift focus on what is in your control and accept the so many things that are not?

Family of 5 holding hands in sunset, living a balanced life.
A Balanced Life
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Tia Parsley, LPC, LCDC

A Balanced Life – In today’s fast paced life, it may seem impossible to find a balance. Many people feel they wake up with their feet on the ground running and trying to meet the demands of the day. Between taking care of the household duties, meeting the needs of a demanding job, or pleasing the spouse and children, being able to balance our life without being struck down can be challenging at times. When an event, task, relationship, thought, or feeling overpowers our life we feel overwhelmed and out of control.

The ability to juggle tasks, manage emotions, maintain relationships, and retain self respect, is essential to living a healthy and balanced life. It is important to not be one sided on anything. Combining opposites is the key to staying in balance. For example, all work and no play is just as unhealthy as all play and no work. Being too invested in self interests and no interest in others is one sided and will cause an imbalance, just as, too much time invested in others and not enough time for yourself. Although, balance is different for each situation, the idea of finding the happy medium in life brings stability and a sense well-being. Being able to keep life in balance could very well be the key to happiness.

What in your life is out of balance? Dialectical Behavioral Therapy can help in building a life worth living and in gaining skills to maintain a well-balanced life. The goal of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is move away from extremes and to attain balance by teaching mindfulness, distress tolerance skills, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Achieving a healthy balance can lead to healthier relationships, greater self-confidence, and a more fulfilling life.