Psych of Adolescence turns self-discovery

I received probably the best advice ever during my Adolescent Psychology class today.

My professor put up this map of the United States:

He told us to pretend that he was going to give each of us an all-expenses paid, four day, three night trip to where ever we wanted in the United States. Anywhere. The one place you would want to go.

I chose San Diego, California.

He asked a couple of people their places and why. One girl said Rapid City, South Dakota. Because her fiance is at the air force base near there. Another one said Kaua’i, Hawaii. Because her parents honeymooned there, and she wants to experience the magic of the island herself.

My professor then told us to think of that location not as a place, but as the happiest moment of our lives. That moment when we are so happy, there are no words for it. That moment that you would give everything in order to live it forever.

Then he told us to think of the United States as our emotions. How close are you to that happy place? 

My happy place is San Diego. If at any moment I think of this analogy and feel like I’m in New York City, I have a lot to do to get to my happy place. I recognize my need to work on how I’m feeling, whether that’s telling someone else, doing things to make me happy, even just self-reflection. Anything to make my way towards San Diego.

The closer I get to San Diego, the better I’m doing. This changes daily. One day I may be in Chicago. The next San Francisco. It is all a part of working towards that emotional positivity. That happiest place.

And when I’ve reached that place, I can ultimately be the happiest I’ve ever been.

And that’s what I learned in school today.  

1.19.12. united states,emotional intelligence,map,san diego,psychology,self-discovery,happy,school,positivity,

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