Written by Project Passport Founder, Sabriya Dobbins

We are the CEOs. We are the head designers. We are the top engineers. We are the senior creators. We are the originators. We are the sole architects of our own happiness.

Yet and still we somehow have learned along the way that people and things equal satisfaction. Is it because celebrities post photos with glassy-eyed smiles alongside their new rides and homes? Is it because that one love novel told us that “She was dead inside until he planted the seeds of delight and hope?” Is it because every movie character who has ever loved has lived in despair without the contentment drawn from another person. Somehow true happiness has been lost in translation.

How could we have allowed ourselves to be duped for so long into the belief the something externally outside of us has the sole determination in how we navigate the world from within? This is the moment where I quote some fancy findings from some cutting-edge research article. However, there is no need. See we have this thing called a spirit within. Our spirit is so fragile yet it is the single strongest thing we own. How do people with horrible diseases still smile? How do those with a broken heart still find joy? The spirit within is powerful and it is the only thing on earth that can be ripped into shreds but can perfectly re-mend itself with time. Think about the starfish…how it can regrow its arms. The spirit is that but a million times better. He who created our spirit knew that it would be the greatest gift of all. The spirit is our compass to happiness yet we are the tour guides. But--the unthinkable has happened, we have allowed society to infiltrate our spirit, leading to malfunctions of false happiness.

Here is the real equation:

Happiness = Our Spirit Within + Our Inner Will + Our Belief in the Feeling of Contentment

In this world, we as people have come amongst some rough times. We are in a world where bad things in the media get more ‘likes’ and attention than the good. Yet, somehow there are still these aggregates of light shining through the cracks of this troubled society. Evil and negativity is desperate to fill in the gaps but there are so many people out there who refuse to let it happen. Every day they wake up and they make a choice. They CHOOSE bravery over fear. They CHOOSE optimism over apathy. They CHOOSE empathy over distrust. They CHOOSE charity over selfishness. They CHOOSE happiness over hopelessness. When they make these choices, the light is blinding, and it is impossible to ignore. They inspire others to tap into their own spirits and find those bright spots hidden within.

You need to make a choice today, tomorrow, and every day. No matter what happens, you have a weapon that never dies. How will you use yours?

Need a place to start? Travel. Something about it triggers the spirit in the most perplexing of ways. You will learn more as you follow this blog.

Cheers,

Sabriya Dobbins, Founder of Project Passport

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Project Passport is a mental empowerment retreat and event company created to help women connect with one another and gain the tools to improve their lives in the best way possible. Each retreat experience has a unique theme with carefully designed activities to help participants grow and experience transformation. We are making mental wellness the norm, one retreat at a time. Learn more at project-passport.com.