Happiness

Fill in the blank:
I will be happy when _____________________.
(This is a trick question)

Now answer these questions:
Is happiness up there on your top ten values?
Do you know what makes you happy?
Does the concept of happiness seem trivial in today’s world?
Do you make time for happiness?

Can you see where I am going with this? I am a vocal convert to the happiness movement also known as positive psychology as represented by Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D. and Martin Seligman, Ph.D. I am loving the book Happier, by Ben-Shahar. Upon seeing the book on the coffee table, my youngest asked me in a worried but calculatedly calm way – "Mom, are you happy?" "Yes, sweetheart, I am. I am reading the book for my coaching practice." I smiled and realized that she values happiness and wants that for me. Nice.

Here is a quote from Ben-Shahar’s book:

Rather than feeling despondent because we have

not yet reached the point of perfect happiness,
rather than squandering our energies to gauge
how happy we are, we need to recognize that
happiness is an unlimited resource and then
focus on ways in which we can attain more of it.
Becoming happier is a lifelong pursuit.

Go for it – create happiness for yourself now. Then you can bring more happiness into the world with your smile and an open heart.