As you recall I stated that if you are happy you are more productive, more creative more in just about everything positive.
But what do I mean when I say happy?
If you won a million dollars today in the lottery you would probably say, if asked, that you were happy.
Of course you would - you’re an instant millionaire!
If you were in an accident and became a paraplegic you would probably say, if asked, that you were not happy.
But you know what…
When asked about their level of happiness one year after an event of that sort the lottery winners and the paraplegics on average rated their happiness levels equal.
What!?
A lottery winner and someone who doesn’t have the use of their legs are both equally happy?
Well that’s interesting…
So how do you define happiness?
How about this definition…
Happiness is the joy we feel as we pursue our potential
Happiness is the joy we feel as we pursue our potential
It’s not about the winning of the lottery - oh yeah that brings a ton of pleasure…but it doesn’t necessarily make us happy.
A kid getting a popsicle - experiences a lot of pleasure at the moment. Might even say ‘I’m the happiest girl in the whole wide world” Of course we all know that her true happiness comes from a whole lot more than a popsicle. Just as true happiness comes from more than winning the lottery.
We can’t confuse the feeling of pleasure and true happiness.
And you can have true happiness when you become an instant paraplegic too. I know a guy who experienced this.
He was my Produce Manager down in Athens when I ran a store there. He was a great produce manager and he ran one of the busiest produce departments around at that time - doing over $90,000 a week in 2005.
One night he was driving home after having a few beers. He was on the phone arguing with his wife and flipped his car. He was thrown out of the car landing in the middle of the road…less than 500 yards from his house…and would never walk again.
Tragic
Or so it seemed
But his story has a happy ending…or I shouldn’t say ending because it continues today with energy and excitement.
When talking to him he said the accident was the best thing that ever happened to him…and he means it. The energy in his voice is contagious. He takes his son to motocross and loves it.
Yes…HE takes his kid because he has a car set up so he can drive.
He is happy…
His true happiness comes in the joy he feels while pursuing his potential. It is amazing.
So when I ask you to “Choose to be Happy” I am asking you to look at your entire mindset on living…on working…
Being happy doesn't mean you won’t have set-backs or stresses…shoot we all have those - sometimes seemingly everyday…but being happy is what you are thinking during those set-backs or stresses.
Happiness isn’t about being blind to the negatives in our environment; it’s believing we have the power to do something about them and then imagining a positive reality - a positive result from those negatives.
You all have heard about the glass half-full people and the glass half-empty people. There is a third group of people we often don’t think about. Those people who don’t care if the glass is half-full or half-empty because they see another option…they see the full pitcher of water sitting off to the side!
Change your thinking a little…or a lot…and the possibility of happiness grows. Being able to see the positive future is a key to having real happiness.
(please read "Before Happiness" by Shawn Achor...I've been reading and enjoying it. I like his definition of happiness...so I used it here!)
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