Through the process of completing the individual logs of the Finding Meaning Joy and Happiness project I was able to look at myself through new eyes. Without the different logs that dealt with subjects such as exercise, healthy traits, and communication, I would not have noticed several aspects of my life which I never think about. Some examples would be the unhealthy habits that I’ve picked up and thinking about ways in which to exchange those habits for healthier ones and also finding coping strategies that are most effective for me when I am anxious or stressed about something in my life. The different aspects that we had to look at for this project definitely helped in aiding me to find ways to make my life better and more fulfilling. All these logs were beneficial because they allowed me to find out weak and strong points within each of the areas. I can also know take the knowledge gained from each area and incorporate them into my life into how I am as a student, an employee, and also my relationship with the ones both present and in the future. Out of all the activities that we were supposed to do, the two that I found the most interesting or helpful were the eating journal and the fitness journal.
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The reason I chose the eating journal was because whenever I eat I normally don’t think about what I am eating that day, I just choose whatever sounds good at the time or whatever is available to me. This segment made me think about both what I was going to eat and also made me realize how much junk I eat. I always thought that I ate pretty healthy, but after doing this journal I realized that it really is not that way. I found out that the ratio of healthy food to junk food is more of a thirty to seventy ration than the sixty to forty ratio I believed I was eating. Now whenever I go the cafeteria I focus more on choosing the healthier foods than the normal burger, or pizza, and fries. I know have more fruit and vegetables and choose the prepared meals, if they are good. These healthier choices that I am making now will help me both in the short and long term by providing me with more energy throughout the day and help me age better without as much grease in my body. The reason I chose the fitness journal is because I do not get very much exercise in on a daily basis. Before doing the journal section the extent to my exercise was when I had to walk to class and even then it was not that much walking because all my classes are pretty close to my dorm. Doing this journal forced me to take time that I would have spent watching movies or playing video games to go and actually exercise more. While doing this journal I realized that there are so many things that I can do in order to keep my body in the best condition that did not require me to exert too much energy. I also found a group of friends who I exercise with now two to three times a week now and I feel so much better about myself now than I have in the past. This experience has opened my eyes to new ways in which I can also cope with the stress and anxiety that I get. Instead of going out and smoking a cigarette or opening a beer and drinking for a few hours I now go to the gym and will do more productive things. If it were not for this journal, I would still be smoking and would be drinking more than I did at the beginning of the semester. Out of all the journals the two that I found to be the most difficult were the 24 hour unplug and the gratitude/kindness journals. The reason I found the 24 hour unplug journal difficult is because I am always on some kind of technology throughout the day, whether it be my phone or my laptop. There are very few times in which I will not be stuck inside some electronic device, which is mostly when my phone is dead. Trying to find a good time
The reason I chose the eating journal was because whenever I eat I normally don’t think about what I am eating that day, I just choose whatever sounds good at the time or whatever is available to me. This segment made me think about both what I was going to eat and also made me realize how much junk I eat. I always thought that I ate pretty healthy, but after doing this journal I realized that it really is not that way. I found out that the ratio of healthy food to junk food is more of a thirty to seventy ration than the sixty to forty ratio I believed I was eating. Now whenever I go the cafeteria I focus more on choosing the healthier foods than the normal burger, or pizza, and fries. I know have more fruit and vegetables and choose the prepared meals, if they are good. These healthier choices that I am making now will help me both in the short and long term by providing me with more energy throughout the day and help me age better without as much grease in my body. The reason I chose the fitness journal is because I do not get very much exercise in on a daily basis. Before doing the journal section the extent to my exercise was when I had to walk to class and even then it was not that much walking because all my classes are pretty close to my dorm. Doing this journal forced me to take time that I would have spent watching movies or playing video games to go and actually exercise more. While doing this journal I realized that there are so many things that I can do in order to keep my body in the best condition that did not require me to exert too much energy. I also found a group of friends who I exercise with now two to three times a week now and I feel so much better about myself now than I have in the past. This experience has opened my eyes to new ways in which I can also cope with the stress and anxiety that I get. Instead of going out and smoking a cigarette or opening a beer and drinking for a few hours I now go to the gym and will do more productive things. If it were not for this journal, I would still be smoking and would be drinking more than I did at the beginning of the semester. Out of all the journals the two that I found to be the most difficult were the 24 hour unplug and the gratitude/kindness journals. The reason I found the 24 hour unplug journal difficult is because I am always on some kind of technology throughout the day, whether it be my phone or my laptop. There are very few times in which I will not be stuck inside some electronic device, which is mostly when my phone is dead. Trying to find a good time