Have you been having a hard time connecting with joy and sweating the small stuff? Then, you just may be taking your life too seriously. Taking life “too seriously” may mean different things to different people and result from various life experiences. And, taking things seriously isn’t inherently “wrong” or “bad.” But, in general, if you are persistently preoccupied, distressed, or overwhelmed, and daily tasks and responsibilities negatively impact your mood, then perhaps it's time to change your current thoughts and create new ways of dealing with the heaviness of today's world. Today, set your intentions to become aware of your thinking that is keeping you mired in suffering and struggles. Today, remember thoughts aren’t facts. But they can affect the way you feel and how you act. Keeping a close eye on thinking patterns can help you manage their impact on your mood and behavior.

Today, focus on the silver linings that are always present and yet overlooked when stress takes over. Today, ask yourself if what you are upset about will matter later. While life does have serious moments, there’s a lot we can let go of and accept for what it is. Today, remind yourself that you are doing the best you can with the knowledge, understanding, and awareness that you have right now. No one else likely has life figured out any better than you. Today, set your intentions not to take everything that you are confronted with so seriously. Try to find something to laugh about and shift your beliefs from believing that life happens to you to seeing it as happening for you. Only you can determine if you’ve been taking life “too seriously.” But if you are constantly sweating the small stuff, unable to let go and enjoy the moment, and experiencing high stress levels, then it's up to you to set your intentions to stop taking everything so seriously.

Just for today, I recognize that play is essential in my life, so I remember to do things just for fun. I honor my inner child by remembering to have fun. I remind myself to not take things so seriously. Life brings me only good experiences and all is truly well in my world. And so it is.