"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." – Mahatma Ghandi
I have been thinking about this concept, happiness, for a while.
What is happiness? What makes a person happy? What does it mean to be happy?
As for my two cents, here are my ten principles.
#1
No one but me is responsible for my happiness. No one "gives" me happiness. It sources from me.
#2
Happiness does not arise from the events in my life. Instead it is constructed as a response to the events in my life. Therefore…
#3
I get to choose or not choose happiness. I can choose to stay stuck in an unpleasant situation or I can move on or I can transform it.
#4
There are things that have me feel happier and things that have me feel badly. It makes sense to do more of the former and less of the latter. And to do these things with my heart, body, mind and soul.
#5
When in doubt, help somebody else. When I become too self-involved, I am not happy. And I know that nothing in the world allows me to get in touch with my own happiness than helping someone else. Service is a road to happiness.
#6
Happiness is not a BIG deal; often it is in the little details of life that we feel the most happy. Petting my dog, swimming in the ocean, eating a sweet strawberry, listening to music, having a pillow fight with the family, all come to mind.
#7
Why wait for happiness when I can be happy now? Too often we say, wait until the weekend, until next year, until the kids are grown up, until we retire, etc. Why not be happy now?
#8
Happiness has to do with how I make meaning and if we are aligned with our essential nature. It means that I have to PAY ATTENTION so that I can be here now, in order to notice and to be happy.
#9
If a person doesn't remember a time when they were truly happy, it doesn't mean they weren't. It means they can't remember and probably should concentrate on being happy today, not being happy about yesterday. Which brings me to the 10th happiness principle.
#10
Happiness lives in the NOW, not in the past nor in the future. Happiness is about BEING more than DOING. Looking for it "out there" doesn't work. It is available here, now, alone or in company. Choose Happiness!
By Alicia M. Rodriguez, M.A., P.C.C.
Alicia is the founder of Sophia Associates, Inc., an international executive and leadership coaching practice dedicated to enhancing leadership competencies, strengthening executive performance levels, creating opportunities for personal learning and developing high performing teams. More info
Visit her site: Sophia-associates.com
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