HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE :)

To be able to smile is a definitely a manifestation of happiness.  Yet many happy people forget to smile. 

Performance and happiness also go hand in hand in making an organization successful. With both an appropriate performance management system and a positive approach to influencing people that increases happiness, an organization’s key results can more likely be achieved and sustained.

For many years of my early childhood, I was unhappy. Partly, I did not know happiness was important and the other was life was taken too seriously.  Also, happiness was not a practice in my family, community or culture. As I was exposed to new environments, people, culture and new philosophies, I came to realize that happiness was a CHOICE. 

With that understanding of happiness, the challenge was how you get to practice happiness daily or every moment of your life.  Over the last many years people around me noticed that I was consistently happy and asked me what made me happy. Here are some thoughts that have helped me to improve my happiness levels and enjoy the present moment.

A. The Inner Game.  My feelings are important to motivate my actions in performance in life which includes bringing success in my career, relationship etc. My feelings whether good or bad, are a direct result of the thoughts I carry. For example: If I choose to say it is going to be a wonderful day, it is going to be a wonderful day and if I say it is going to be a bad day and that’s what it is going to be. Likewise, what are the thoughts you carry when you deal with people & situations? What are things we talk about a normal basis? Does it empower us or make us feel worse? Monitor your thoughts to create the feelings you want.

A great way is to spend some time at the beginning of the day or the end of the day and reflect on what you normally think, feel and the actions you take. If you do feel good it is important to reframe your thoughts, let go off the situation or find solutions for your current issues. I have been practising it for the last 6 years and it feels good.

Happiness is our birth right and we need to make the choice to feel good.

B. The Right People. Choose the people that make you happy whether it is a family member, romantic partner, people at work, friends etc.  Of the things that played an important part in my happiness was my mastermind alliance, a group that came to together to support each other and learn together. We have been meeting twice a month for the last 5 years. It has helped me reframe my thoughts and keeps me aligned to my direction in life.

People influence your life and so choose the people that you feel happy.

C. The Social Connection.  Our happiest memories, comes from our connection with people and how we have served them.  I have been an active Jaycee member for many years and have been involved in more than 100 community projects.  I enjoy connecting with new people in Facebook and Linkedin and it motivates me for new possibilities and opportunities. I also have set aside 10 percent of my business time to serve the needy and underprivileged. 

Fulfillment and giving brings happiness

D. A Date with You:   The most important person around in your life is ‘you’. We tend to have much time for many things and many people.  How do we support ourselves mentally, emotionally & spiritually?  Some of things that I do isSpend time on my dream; where I want to be in 5 years time. Having a journal & vision board definitely helps.

1. Check Inventory: financials, areas you want to improve you, medical check-ups, etc.
2. Commit to activities like reading books, listening to music, surfing the net, going for walks
3. Planning leisure activities including planning my holidays, movies you like to watch
4. To go out and enjoy the food you like to eat
5. To find time to relax and might be do nothing

      Happiness comes from loving yourself first.

E.  Simplify

I have realized over the years that we tend to accumulate and overdo many things in our life due to peer pressure or to keep up with the Joneses. I have made a choice to have a simple living and not to accumulate or get involved in too many things in my life. Simplifying involves prioritizing and planning what one can possibly could do in a given time and find fulfillment from what you do. 

 If you feel worried about what you do then you are trying to resist. What you resist will persist. As one of my favorite teacher, Dr Wayne Dyer says “there is no way to happiness, happiness is the way. 

 I wish you happiness, every way. Keep smiling 

Coaching Journal

1.  What make you happy?
2. How do you practice happiness in your daily life?
3. What is stopping you from being happy?
4. What are the choices you can make?
5. If you cannot make the choices, what can you do to resolve the situation?