When I was 18 (oh so many moons ago), I started a blog called “Memoirs of an Army Brat” I would chronicle my daily thoughts and weekly adventures which, at that time, were plenty as I was already living on my own.

From time to time, I also wrote about how I felt I was always searching outside of myself for something. Something to make me happy. I discussed what I wanted out of life and the kind of person I wanted to be. I wanted to “figure myself out” more than anything in the world.

Something amazing happens when you begin to face yourself and ask hard questions. You begin to hold yourself accountable and it shapes your character. You begin to see yourself for who you are and believe it with undeniable conviction. You also begin to shed all the lies you’ve ever been told about yourself. You’re also able to start making changes to the things you don’t want to be true about you either.

As time went on, I finally learned how to accept, love and be ok with my imperfections.

After running the blog consistently for 7 years and before transitioning it to a beaut & lifestyle blog, I wrote one final blog post. I’d come to the realization that happy is something you make a decision to be. It’s active yet it’s not something to be pursued. The more you give chase to it, the more it will allude you.

But when you set your mind on BEING anything, you will BECOME it.

And that’s not to say you’re going to FEEL happy all the time but being in the right state of mind leads to joy. And joy is the ultimate goal because it’s never dependent outward circumstances.