Why are we So Serious?

I watched the movie “The Dark Knight” this past weekend and saw it in a different light than many people may have seen it.  It made me look into myself and wonder the exact question asked by the Joker, “Why So Serious?”  Why is it that we are so serious on a daily basis?  Why do we get angry about every little situation that occurs?  Why do we let our worries and concerns consume our lives and affect the way that we live?  I can honestly say that I do not have the answer for the reasons behind these feelings in everyone else, but within myself I realized that these feelings ran my life because I let it get to me.  I would like to share it with you to see if anyone can relate and to motivate others to move away from these unnecessary feelings. 

I continuously stressed about work and money; I always told myself “What am I going to do if I lose this job?  I can’t lose this job because I won’t have enough money to support my family.  I worked so hard to get everything that I have and don’t want to go back to having nothing!”  I felt like I would lose my life if I would ever lose the job I had.  I took everything seriously and lost my humorous, down-to-earth self.  I let my feelings and possessions consume me instead of just living my life and enjoying each moment as it went by.  This led to sour relationships, turmoil within family members, destroyed friendships and business opportunities.  My feelings created a wall that blocked any inner peace or happiness from entering.  I felt trapped and suffocated to a point where I was so stressed out and had a panic attack.  I thought to myself, “There has to be a way out.  Someday I am going to get out of this mess and be a true success in life.”  I had a “plan” to escape the pain of the lower-class/stressed filled structure that I was stuck in for most of my life.  I thought that I could escape the structure by making a lot of money and having many items (e.g., clothes, shoes, and electronics).  I never actually realized that this “plan” was created by my feelings like concern and fear that I would never have enough to support myself and later on, my children.  Of course, the “plan” never came true and I was stuck with the same fears that had never actually gone away.  This brought with it stress and anxiety, which is actually negative energy, that caused me to get sick and end up with high cholesterol and other medical issues.

Around this time last year I was in, most likely, the worst possible situation that I could ever be in.  I had the issue with my cholesterol, severe bronchitis (on the verge of becoming pneumonia), I was filled with stress and anxiety (which felt like I was carrying Mt. Everest on my back), and had lost a new job with Verizon.  I was an unemployed father of a 7 month old, with another kid on the way, who did not know what the future had in store.  I could not find a job because of the Recession (which was allegedly not going on at the time) and had to take unemployment for the time being.  In the following weeks something came over me and the feelings that were running my life began to disappear little by little.  I would have to give much credit to my daughter for this shift in my attitude towards life because she helped me live in the Now.  Through her I realized that I have to appreciate every second as if it is my last and I began to realize that I have to live in the present moment and not worry about the past or the future.  I realized that the only way to make a meaningful future, for myself and everyone around me, would be to live every moment as it comes to you.  What I am trying to say is that you have to stop stressing, being angry, or worrying about every little detail and just enjoy your life as it comes to you.

I felt that I should share this insight with each and every one of the people who I come in contact with every day.  I feel motivated by your appreciation and energy; and hope that this has motivated you in some way to move away from the “Serious” mentality and begin to enjoy life as you live it (in the present moment).  I also felt motivation from an individual that I strongly care about (hopefully it touches many more) who is going through these feelings now and has to deal with the stresses that supposedly have to occur in our lives.  Understand that all will be good as long as you live in the Now and stop worrying about the future.  The future is what you make it and will continue to be stressful as long as that it was drives your present moments.  Remember to leave your comments and insight to the topic because WE motivate each other and move on another into a more conscious state of mind.  Like always, I am always around if you need me.  Live life to its fullest, one day at a time!