The Life You Choose

In my recovery from depression and anxiety, perhaps the most useful step I took was to question my life choices. Many of the changes I made as a result might seem "wrong" by personal growth literature standards. I cut back on my goals, stopped meditating, watched more TV, slept more, and ran virtually everything I did through the "fun filter"; that is I asked myself if it would be fun before I chose to do it. None of these choices made me less conscious or less happy. Quite the contrary. Sometimes we let
what we've learned about "personal growth" dictate our actions, even when those choices are clearly making us miserable. Question your choices. How much of what you're doing is out of obligation?
Short of meeting your responsibilities, everything is a choice. Are you working harder than you have to because you want to "get ahead?" If so, question what getting ahead means. Along with the potential increase in salary or prestige, are you dooming yourself to more stress and obligation? If you're living for the future or for some abstract idea of what's right, remember that life is to be enjoyed today!

"What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life."
-Leo Buscaglia