Happy, because…
Life is so fucking weird.
We have these aspirations and goals for the future and are excited to build toward them and cross the finish line.
Then, we do, and we aren’t happy? Why is that?
Life is so fucking weird.
We have these aspirations and goals for the future and are excited to build toward them and cross the finish line.
Then, we do, and we aren’t happy? Why is that?
There is no formula for happiness.
It happens when we follow the path of our values, virtues, and vision.
It happens when we let go of things out of our control.
It happens when we take time for ourselves.
It sort of gets in the way.
Instead of striving to be happier in the future, why don’t we accept there are happy moments today?
It can’t all be bad.
What is one point of happiness today?
That’s a great place to start.
Podcasting isn’t for everyone.
But neither is TikTok dances, Pickle ball , or fishing.
Don’t jump on a trend because it is gaining popularity or is the current “water cooler” talk.
Happiness is closer than you think.
One relationship.
One decision.
One action.
What is the next step you need to take to move in that direction?
It may be an uncomfortable one but wouldn’t you rather discomfort today for happiness tomorrow?
Seems like a good trade off to me.
Everything we create gets us one small step closer to pure bliss.
It’s not about producing great pieces.
Those come in waves.
Consider why the person telling you to not go after your “thing” is telling you that.
People don’t want you to move to another level.
It makes them look bad.
It makes them feel less of themselves.
If we wake up every day trying to do our best the hard work pays off eventually. We never know when it’s going to click
You can create the mind and body you want from nothing.
Do not convince yourself otherwise.
It takes patience.
It takes hard work.
It takes confidence.
It takes a will to walk the lesser-worn path.
Can we honestly say to ourselves, “I’m happy today?”
If we can it’s important to understand why? What is happening or has happened where we feel this moment, right now, is a moment of happiness? We can’t repeat it exactly but we can work to replicate it again and again.
When we are growing up we have a tendency to want more.
More toys.
More snacks.
More video games.
More time playing with friends.
There is no timeline.
Stop beating yourself up if you haven’t:
Gotten traction yet
Gotten that promotion/raise
Met that significant other
Found your purpose
Figured it all out
What is it about a warm cup of coffee that makes us feel good?
Maybe it’s the taste first thing in the morning.
It definitely hits the spot.
Today I deleted over 30 apps from my phone.
They weren’t serving me anymore.
They were weighing me down.
A lot of life is like that.
There comes a point where all of us have to make a choice in life.
Do we choose to keep searching for “better”, for a perceived perfect, or do we make a decision to be happy with what we have in front of us?
That’s a choice that is hard for many to make because society always talks about striving for more and better. To keep improving, advancing, and conquering.
If we haven’t defined what “happiness” means to us then how can we be sure we are making the right choices to lead us to a happier life?
Happiness is the result of consistent decisions that are aligned with our virtues, values, and vision for our life.
Seeking happiness is irrelevant if we don’t have a clearer direction on which way to go.
If we are looking for a place to start that might not be a bad first step.
If we haven’t defined what “happiness” means to us then how can we be sure we are making the right choices to lead us to a happier life?
Happiness is the result of consistent decisions that are aligned with our virtues, values, and vision for our life.
We see pictures and videos of people doing cool things, exploring life, appearing happy, and all of that excitement shines through in their expressions and actions.
But what often gets missed is the pain behind those smiles.
Failure fucking sucks
Being told no sucks
Rejection sucks
But maybe those “No’s” are exactly what we need. They focus us more inward. They shake us up by telling us we haven’t quite tweaked the dial just right.
Sports can be a great metaphor for life.
We can either control the tempo of the game or always be back-peddling on our heels and retreating.
So, It’s important to play offense as much as possible (be optimist, think positivity, show gratitude) versus playing defense (putting up walls, negative self-talk, and letting others comtrol what we do).
If we’re chasing something, we’ll never be happy.
Chasing money
Chasing fame
Chasing a partner
It never works out favorably.
Some people think it’s sexy to have a fancy car, lovely jewelry, or a big house.
But, others, think it’s sexy to talk for hours over a cup of coffee, enjoy a long walk on the beach, or find time to “unplug” and think.
Someone else’s happiness doesn’t have to be our happiness.
We lost the great John Madden at the end of 2021 and it made me reflect on the impact we can all make, not by being an “influencer” or by showing off but just by living life to the fullest and respecting those around us.
John Madden, from what it appeared, was beloved by many because of how gracious he was with his time, how much passion he put into his work and the people he was around, and how he enjoyed it all.
Remember, just because other people are doing it doesn’t mean you have to be doing it.
Stay focused on your mission.
Your reward may not come with likes and comments but with you being able to live the life that gives you purpose.
It takes us until we become adults to realize just how hard it is to be a kid.
Kids rarely have free choice.
As we think back about our best memories, they are always simple and we are normally surrounded by others.
I think about the moment I found out we were having a baby.
I think about the first moment I held him.
I think about playing golf with my son.
I think about falling in love.
I tell my son to “Make someone smile today” when I drop him off at school.
The easiest way to enact a positive change in our life is to positively change someone else’s life.
A smile can have ripple effects far greater than we know.
Who are you going to make smile today?
Throughout life you’ll be knocked down, told you’re not good enough, picked on, called names, passed over, and laughed at. Nobody is immune to these sorts of things.
But life is what you make of it and you have the ability to be strong, be positive, and have the courage to forge your own path despite what others may say.
I wasn’t able to attend our 20-year high school reunion this past weekend but as I sat and reflected on the last 20 years I was inclined to write some things down. Things I wish I wrote a long time ago.
Here are a few observations, and hopefully, we can use these ourselves, pass them down to our kids, or maybe the class of 2021/22 can gain insight into areas that were unknown to us at the time.
And that is where our ego as adults clearly gets in the way. We spend the better part of our time trying to teach our children all the things they should be doing, how they should be behaving, and what they should be focusing on.