Recently, I was going through some of my older writings and poems and came across a quote that I saw on a New York City train a few years ago.
 

Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself.

This got me thinking about all of the variables that impact someone’s view on life. How we are raised, the area in which we live, good and bad relationships, money, careers, failures and successes; the list is never-ending. While there may be an infinite number of factors that go into this equation, I believe each of us is responsible for our outlook on life, and on whether or not we like ourselves.
 

Regardless of where you have been or where you are going, your outlook on life can change for the better if you allow it. You can let go of insecurities and grow to like yourself, if you give yourself the chance. To this point, I have found there to be three essential components in the correlation between your outlook in life and how much you like yourself. Check out the equation below:
 

Perspective + Being in Control of Your Happiness – the little things that don’t matter = a more positive human being, both inside and out.

A powerful word that is easily overlooked. A quick query on Google defines perspective as “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.” Point of view, stance and outlook are just a few of the synonyms associated with this word.
Perspective has been on my mind a lot lately. I believe perspective separates the winners from the losers – not just in sport but in life itself. Varying degrees of perspective separate the optimist from the pessimist from the realist. Perspective separates life and death.
 

Your outlook, your point of view, your perspective on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself. If you have ever spent time with someone who passes more hours talking about how bad things are or how terrible their job is or who in general, is just a negative individual, then you probably know someone who doesn’t like themselves very much.
 

I have friends swinging at some of the toughest curve balls life can throw and you would never know. These people find the good in the bad. They believe in something higher; something better for their lives and refuse to let anything get in the way of that. Individuals like this know who they are inside, are secure in that person and let it show outwardly.
 

There are others who have it better than good but let pettiness prevail. People like this obsess over the little things that eventually take over their lives. You see it when they speak, in their body language and in their outlook on life. Sometimes you find yourself wondering what will happen when life throws them a curveball – one much faster, deceptive, and challenging to hit than the slow pitch they’re at bat with now.
 

Clearly, there are differences between someone who has a positive perspective on life and someone who doesn’t. Security in one’s self (or lack thereof) is one of those differences. Not relying on other, imperfect human beings for the main source of their happiness is another. Still, one of the clearest differences I’ve noticed is that those with a positive outlook on life don’t let the petty, small things get to them. In contrast, those who don’t like themselves very much allow the exact opposite to happen.
 

In the fall of 2015, Quarter for Your Crisis received a book in the mail titled, “Adventures of a Trail Stooge.” The story follows Chris Quinn, aka The Esteemed Stooge, Sir Charles Guilons on his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013. It’s a worthwhile read and I highly encourage it (thanks for sending it our way, Chris!).
The night before Chris’ final day on the trail – the ascent up Mt. Katahdin – he writes this down in his journal:
 

Everyone thinks they know – but they don’t know anything. We’re not physiologically capable of answering the big questions. So we get caught up in the little questions. We make all our lives about the little things.
 
 
 

To continue reading this post from our partner, Quarter for Your Crisis, click here.
 

Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones

8 months ago by Aaron 4 min read No comments

Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.