Life As A Veteran: How To Be Happy

Waking up one morning and realizing that you are no longer connected with the military service can be frustrating. You would feel sad as you remember all your previous experiences in the military life. What you are feeling right now is only typical for someone who has gone through a significant transition in life. We understand how tough and demanding it is to accept your reality as of the moment. Because of this, we have rounded up some tips on how you can stay happy now that you are living a civilian life.

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Rest If You Must

Take note that you are already free from the demanding life of a military person. Learn how to enjoy this freedom by taking a good rest every time you want to have one. Give yourself a favor by not doing anything that can cause you stress. Instead, go to sleep early so that you can rest or take afternoon naps to energize you. Andrea F. Polard, PsyD explains that “Mind resting usually doesn’t mean to have no thoughts, but to slow down thoughts and give each thought less meaning. Resting is going into the body and allowing things to be as they are.”

 

Choose Your Friends

Always remember that when it comes to friendship, the first thing that you have to remember is the fact that less is more. What matters the most is having a set of friends who trust and love each other. Cliché as it may sound but it is true that quality matters over quantity. Be with persons who have a positive outlook in life so that you can get some positive vibes from them. Remember, “We only have control of ourselves and our own desire for growth and change. Part of that growth and change is deciding the type of person we allow in our lives, and the positive impact they can have on us.” Nikki Martinez, Psy.D. LCPC said.

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Meditate

When you are feeling stressed and anxious, the right step to take is to practice meditation. Find a quiet place or area in your house and even outdoors where you can channel more good energies into your life. Try joining yoga classes or Pilates to acquire peace of mind. It is not going to be hassle-free or comfortable in the beginning, but once you get used to it, everything will become smooth.

 

Forgive People

There are many factors or reasons why you may have decided to quit your life as a military individual. It could be because you experienced as a disability while serving the state. When this is the case, there is a high possibility that you are keeping hatred in your heart. You may think that someone out there is responsible for your misery. Though it is only rational to feel this way, it is our recommendation for you to learn how to forgive. Offer forgiveness and admiration to those who have hurt you even if they did not offer an apology. In so doing, you will release tension in your system. In the long run, it would be a lot easier to feel better because you no longer have a grudge. “The strength of forgiveness has been shown to have a powerful buffering effect on stress. Those who are highly forgiving of themselves and others have a far less chance of having a mental illness.” explains Ryan M. Niemiec Psy.D.

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Eat Right

Whatever you take in will have a specific consequence in your body. For this reason, you must practice the art of balanced diet. This does not mean that you will prevent your body from enjoying meals. What you have to do is to control your food intake. Be sure to count your calories to ensure that you can maintain a healthy body. At the same time, you should also avoid fatty foods and those that are full of preservatives.

 

Practice Gratitude

Make it a habit of recognizing all the right things that happened during the day. All you have to do is to take notice of the people, times, circumstances and matters that made you smile. The more you feel grateful for these, the lighter you would feel. Having gratitude in your life allows you to attract more positivity wherever you go.

 

May you find the happiness that you are looking for. Do not rush the process so that you can avoid negative emotions. Work at your own pace until you realize that your new life has a better meaning. Life is beautiful. Be sure to appreciate it all.

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