Who Is in Charge of Your Happiness?
By Kathleen A. Matchunis, President of Connecting, Inc.
So, who is in charge of your happiness? This is not something that you delegate, although delegating can be very useful in daily life. This is an inside job. You create your own happiness. You may think, “Yes, but ……..” There are not any “buts”, you are the one! You are the one in charge of your own happiness.
Then, what do you do when you get “down in the dumps”? It is important to give yourself an opportunity to feel sad or down because it important to acknowledge these feelings and work through them. First of all, you can shift gears by being grateful for the people in your life, what you have, and all the opportunities which you have to kick start a change in mood. Next, assume responsibility for where you are in your life. What could YOU do to make things better? If you don’t know, get an objective point of view from someone you trust and someone who is not emotionally attached to the situation. This is not a job for a friend or family member, who will just tell you how wonderful you are and that things will just magically get better. This role needs to be filled by a life coach.
You need to overcome roadblocks and limited thinking, when making behavioral changes. Progress is difficult, if not, impossible, if you begin your sentences by saying, “If only ………….” or “When I have more money, I will ……………….”.
When you become aware of options for change from your coach, you will craft a game plan. If you just allow these ideas to swirl around in your head, you will not get results. You need to commit to your game plan and hold yourself accountable to its action items. Prioritize your action items and create a timeline. You will find satisfaction in hitting those goals on time. If you are not able to reach a goal on time, don’t beat yourself up. Think about why and discuss this with your coach or confidante. “Recalculate” as the GPS says and then get back on track.
You will feel the satisfaction of accomplishment as you realize your personal and professional life goals. Happiness is right around the corner. Don’t chase it, create it!