“The only way to find
happiness is to understand that happiness is not out there. It’s in here.”
Marshall Goldsmith
I’ve
Been Thinking . . . about happiness.
I’ve
also been asking myself some pointed questions about my own happiness like; Are
you happy with who, what and where you are today? Are you having fun? Are you enjoying your relationships? Are you optimistic about your future? Are you living life to the fullest?
If
the answer is yes, why? Probably the
choices I’m making.
If
the answer is no, why not? Probably the
choices I’m making.
For
most people, there is a tendency to search for something or sometime or someone
to empower our pursuit of happiness. ‘When . . . then’ is their happiness
formula. Unfortunately, going through
life waiting for the ‘when . . . then’
moment to occur causes us to miss the wonderful adventure available to us
today.
Remember
the comedy film Cool Runnings? It is about the first Jamaican bobsled team
to go to the Olympics. John Candy plays
a former American gold medalist who is chosen to coach the Jamaican team. The players grow to like their American
leader and affectionately dub him “Sled-god.”
As
the movie progresses, the coach’s dark past surfaces and begins to haunt
him. In an Olympics following his gold
medal performance, he broke the rules by weighting the U.S. sled, bringing
disgrace on himself and his team.
One
of the Jamaican bobsledders was perplexed why anyone who had already won a gold
medal would cheat. He nervously
approached the coach and asked him to explain.
“I
had to win,” the coach said. “I learned
something. If you are not happy without
a gold medal, you won’t be happy with it.”
If
you are not happy without the ‘sometime,’ ‘someone,’ or ‘something,’ you won’t
be happy with it. Happiness is an
internal tug of war that can be won or lost at your choosing. Unhappiness comes without an investment but
you won’t like the interest it pays. It
takes energy, commitment and solid choices to be happy. The dividends are well worth the investment.
In
my happy moments, these three “A” principles are solidly at work:
- Attitude of Gratitude. My happiness is not determined by what’s
happening to me but rather what is happening in me. When I am grateful for every moment of
everyday my happiness quotient is pretty healthy. I challenge you to find just one happy,
ungrateful person – impossible. Be
an optimist. Regardless of your
circumstances, choose to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
- Align your Purpose and Passions. When your daily activities are a
reflection of your life’s purpose and the activities you are passionate
about, happiness naturally surfaces.
Look around you. Happy
people are investing their lives in a purpose that really matters to
them. Unhappy people are often
‘wandering generalities.’ Happiness
is a consequence for pursuing something meaningful.
- Activate Happiness Activators. What?
That’s right, do the things that bring about happiness. Smile.
Laugh. Do something to make
someone else happy. Believe in
God. Build a close
relationship. Let go of the ‘poor
me’ mentality. Speak happy. It’s
all about activating the simple “as-if” principle. If you want to be happier, act as-if you’re
happy and soon the behavior creates the emotion.
Don’t
wait for happiness to find you.
Happiness is largely a choice. If
you want it, work at it.
“To be happy is easy
enough if we give ourselves, forgive others, and live with thanksgiving. No self-centered person, no ungrateful soul
can ever be happy. Life is giving, not
getting.
Joseph Fort Newton
