We Get To Decide
I watched a television program about grown men who collect old washing machines and dryers. These men, from all over geographically, gather together and do laundry! Another show featured salt and pepper container collectors. One couple had every wall of their home lined with cabinets containing salt and pepper shakers. They regularly gathered with other collectors at huge conventions for all sorts of collectible, rare and truly strange salt and pepper shakers.
These things make me happy for several reasons. 1) seeing people passionate and happy makes me happy 2) seeing what simple (strange?) things makes other people happy makes me feel much better about what I think is important. 3) It reminds me that we get to decide what is important!
Everyone Seems Fabulous
If you are any way connected to social media, being able to maintain a good, healthy sense of perspective about your life can be a big challenge. In social media land, in the land of advertising, in Hollywood, everyone seems to be enjoying life in a much grander way than you. Even the people sharing their struggles seem so much more enlightened in their pain than you.
The older I get the more I realize that we, as a species, really do not know (wt..) we are doing. All of it is made up. We are influenced by so many things and the worst part is that we are unaware of 99.9% of the influence. The influence is micro—our current circumstances, our family, friends, schools, clubs, networks, etc. And it is macro—history, government, cultures, media, the internet, etc. And again, the older I get the more I see there are so many things I truly do NOT give a flying fig about, but make others dizzy with joy.
Discontent and Failure; Life’s Greatest Teachers
There are no happiness life hacks. Life brings us pain, uncontrollable, unforeseen circumstances despite our best defenses. We haven’t figured out the secret to avoiding failure. If beauty and money were a guarantee of great relationships, then Brad and Angelina would be together. If working hard guaranteed success, we wouldn’t have poverty ridden single parents. In fact, failure is still our most powerful teacher. We are wired to feel discontent. Because the universe we live in is ever expanding, we are always expanding. It’s the discontent that has been and will continue to be the catalyst for our greatest inventions and the way we most effectively evolve.
Problem Solve Your Way to Happiness
How do we not become self-obsessed or conspiracy-theory driven nut balls? Put some effort into figuring out what you, alone, without judgement, really value. What does success and happiness look like to you? Why? Align as best you can with what you find personally of value and pick something to focus your energy on that truly engages you. Then, endeavour to overcome any obstacles and problem solve until you succeed. Then, you guessed it, do it again! Remember, happiness is just one feeling and like all feelings is not constant. It comes and goes and why it happens changes.
Most of all, try not to care so much about what others think.
If you need me, I'll be in my rainbow unicorn tap dancing studio...
These things make me happy for several reasons. 1) seeing people passionate and happy makes me happy 2) seeing what simple (strange?) things makes other people happy makes me feel much better about what I think is important. 3) It reminds me that we get to decide what is important!
Everyone Seems Fabulous
If you are any way connected to social media, being able to maintain a good, healthy sense of perspective about your life can be a big challenge. In social media land, in the land of advertising, in Hollywood, everyone seems to be enjoying life in a much grander way than you. Even the people sharing their struggles seem so much more enlightened in their pain than you.
The older I get the more I realize that we, as a species, really do not know (wt..) we are doing. All of it is made up. We are influenced by so many things and the worst part is that we are unaware of 99.9% of the influence. The influence is micro—our current circumstances, our family, friends, schools, clubs, networks, etc. And it is macro—history, government, cultures, media, the internet, etc. And again, the older I get the more I see there are so many things I truly do NOT give a flying fig about, but make others dizzy with joy.
Discontent and Failure; Life’s Greatest Teachers
There are no happiness life hacks. Life brings us pain, uncontrollable, unforeseen circumstances despite our best defenses. We haven’t figured out the secret to avoiding failure. If beauty and money were a guarantee of great relationships, then Brad and Angelina would be together. If working hard guaranteed success, we wouldn’t have poverty ridden single parents. In fact, failure is still our most powerful teacher. We are wired to feel discontent. Because the universe we live in is ever expanding, we are always expanding. It’s the discontent that has been and will continue to be the catalyst for our greatest inventions and the way we most effectively evolve.
Problem Solve Your Way to Happiness
How do we not become self-obsessed or conspiracy-theory driven nut balls? Put some effort into figuring out what you, alone, without judgement, really value. What does success and happiness look like to you? Why? Align as best you can with what you find personally of value and pick something to focus your energy on that truly engages you. Then, endeavour to overcome any obstacles and problem solve until you succeed. Then, you guessed it, do it again! Remember, happiness is just one feeling and like all feelings is not constant. It comes and goes and why it happens changes.
Most of all, try not to care so much about what others think.
If you need me, I'll be in my rainbow unicorn tap dancing studio...
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