A Little Reflection on Life

Here I am at Café de Flore, the oldest coffee house in Paris and the epitome of the perfect Parisian café cliché. Once a hangout of the artistic elite such as Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso, the ambience created in this charming café between the classic French decor and the jolly waiters emptying jugs of thick, hot chocolate into porcelain coffee cups while you pensively watch the world go by from the terrace is enough to make you feel like the star of an old Audrey Hepburn film.

Paris is no doubt the type of city that has so many awe-inspiring sights and scenes at every corner you turn, from the tall monuments that stand all along the lengths of the Seine, to the explosion of life happening all throughout the city’s sandstone streets, there are so many reasons to appreciate the world around you. Honestly, in a place as culturally enriching as Paris, it’s hard not to feel anything other than lucky to be alive.

  In light of the thoughtful ambience of Cafe de Flore, and the feelings of pure bliss that go hand in hand with sipping a coffee from here, today I thought I would share with you my top seven ways to live a happier life.

1.) Strive To Be Good, Not Perfect

This is something that I really believe applies to anyone working in a creative field. It’s so easy to give up on a project that has the potential to be amazing because we let our desire for perfection overshadow our work and tell us that we’re not good enough. As Voltaire once said, “perfection is the enemy of progress”.

Finishing something and finishing it well not only means we can be proud of our work, it also gives us the opportunity to learn from it and move on to new things. The feeling you get from completing a task that means something to you in life is just so unique and so special, but if you don’t finish what you start, how can you ever be proud of the result? The truth about perfection is that it doesn’t exist and learning how to accept this is one of the key components to a happy life.

2.) Never Be Afraid To Be Alone

So many people live life under the impression that no matter what they do or where they go, they need somebody else with them, be it a boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend. But honestly, being alone gives life a level of freedom that is just so unmatched by anything else in the world.

If you really want something you are capable of taking control of your life and of going after it alone. Being comfortable enough to spend time with yourself will unlock a type of happiness you never even knew existed and who knows, you might even end up in Paris because of it.

3.) Always Appreciate the Present

Someday you won’t be able to do what you want so the right time is now.

4.) Work Hard And Be Nice

Being nice takes work but it takes even more work when your mind is already trying to support the pressure of a million other things. No matter what the situation may be, or no matter how irritating somebody may seem at the time, being nice will always bring so much more positivity into your life than being mean.

5.) Stop Living Life To The Confines Of  Other People’s Imagination

Never let anybody tell you that you can’t do something because honestly, what the hell do they know anyway? Countless times I was told by the people around me I wouldn’t get into the college I wanted, I didn’t have what it takes to be a blogger and that I wouldn’t be able to survive on my own in a foreign country. Not even one year later and I got accepted into the top university in Ireland, (which I hated by the way) I’m living in Paris and I’ve done some pretty awesome brand collaborations here on our blog.

Just because somebody else is incapable of visualising your dreams, doesn’t mean you can’t do it for yourself. The less you listen to the negativity and nay-saying of other people and the harder you work on yourself, the better and easier achieving a happier life for yourself will become.

6.) Appreciate The Simple Pleasures In Life

One of my favourite films of all time and perhaps one of the most poignant films set in Paris, Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain is all about the joy of helping others as well as appreciating the little things in life. Paris is really a city that cherishes this sentiment, be it by visiting local art galleries, relaxing in the park or people watching in your favourite café. No matter where you are in the world, it’s so important to take time out of your day and do what you love. Life happens to us and then it’s over in the blink of an eye. So why not enjoy it?

7.) Spend More Money On Experiences And Less Money On Things

Our experiences in life are invaluable because ultimately, they define who were are. Choosing to spend your hard-earned cash on trying new things and even travelling the world is just one of the greatest things you can do. Not only will you make amazing memories and have some awesome photo opportunities, you’ll also learn about other languages and cultures too. The world is so big and has so much to offer so it’s just so important to go out and experience it.

And that’s it for this post. I really hope you guys enjoyed! If you’re not following the blog, be sure to follow button on the top of the page to get notifications of new posts.

Thank you guys so much for reading and I’ll see you very soon in my next post!

~Mandy xx