The secret to happiness is contained within this post. That is not hyperbole or a marketing trick. With this one post I am going to put Tony Robbins and his cohorts out of business. With one post I am going to destroy the mental health industry because I am going to provide you with the secret to being happy.
Happiness requires action
That is it. Boil it down and that is the root of being happy- action. Ok, that is not going to be enough to kill Sir Tony and company. His business isn’t going to be impacted by this nor do I have to worry about a group of angry social workers/therapists putting out a contract on me.
So what does that statement mean. Is it a silly slogan that will one day sell millions of t-shirts. Is it an off the cuff remark that I am trying to make sound powerful and significant? Well, it could be all or none of those things, but I like to believe that it is meaningful and something that works. I can even tie it into blogging.
I blog because I like to record thoughts, memories, ideas and experiences about my life. This place is a repository of stories about my kids. It is a warehouse and living chronicle of their lives and mine. It is where I air out my head and ask hard questions of myself, like what makes me happy.
Have you ever thought about it? Have you ever asked yourself what makes you happy, ever thought about what brings you joy? I don’t think a lot of people do it, but I could be wrong. But it is something that I think about with regularity. It started about 7 or 8 years or so ago.
I woke up and realized that I wasn’t living the life that I wanted to live. Woke up and started asking why I wasn’t and what it was that I wanted to do. And I have spent a good part of the time since then trying to make the changes that will provide me with the life that I want.
You might wonder why it has taken so long. You might ask yourself if I have just been spinning my wheels or wondering if I haven’t taken action. It is fair to say that I don’t like change and am slow to adopt it. Fair to say that it has been an evolutionary process and that I haven’t figured it all out overnight. And also fair to say that I have taken major steps in making some of these changes.
So, I may not be where I want but I have a plan and I am working steadily upon it. Happiness requires action and I am taking it.
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
Ultimately the question of how to be happy is one that is individual in nature. So whatever works for you is perfecf.
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ul, althoWonderful post. TR quote is meaningfugh flies in the face of those above who deem inactivity as a meaningful individual choice. My barrier to happiness is physical suffering, just a little thing like oral cancer, a glossectomy (having 80% of tongue removed and replaced by flap from my gut, along with accompanying radiation, chemo therapy, and current status since January, eg, feeding tube because of inability to swallow). To rail against injustice-never smoked in my life, wallow in self pity, curse belief in a personal God were all counterproductive actions. I am still active in trying to recover swallowing via therapy, but the process is slow and prospects are for limited future function. Certainly the above musings on happiness are valid but I prefer the simple traditional request for long life, health and happiness.
Well it sounds like you have a large part of this down already. The daily work out is pretty significant.
My recent post Dancing at the Movies – Music Video
Happiness is individual in nature- so it wouldn't be wrong to suggest that some people might be happy doing nothing.
My recent post Dancing at the Movies – Music Video
There is a lot of truth to that. A lot of people need some motivation to get them to take action.
My recent post Dancing at the Movies – Music Video
I'm sometimes slow about taking action, but there are some instance in which I excel. For instance I'm really good about working out every day because it makes me feel calm and relaxed (happy) and I know that's why I do it. However, I'm bad at taking action in terms of writing my book (which I've started a dozen times at least) even though I know, regardless of outcome, that it would make me happy to finish. You're right, happiness does require action. There are just some mental hurdles to get over before my action happens (or happens consistently) 🙂
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the definition of happiness may change from person to person. some guys believe that just sitting and doing nothing it already an achievement. Great post!
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There is an old saying that states that if people did not feel hungry… they would stay in bed the whole day. Life is meant to be lived… great post.
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