The happiness decision

Abraham Lincoln was awesome. Exhibit A: The Gettysburg address. Exhibit B: Inspired the Wayne’s World quote: If she were a president she would be Babe-raham Lincoln. Exhibit C: This; ‘Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be’. I’ve been pondering this and seeing what difference deciding to be happy can make rather than just wishing and hoping and thinking and praying and planning and dreaming on it. After all, the Dalai Lama, (another awesome leader) says he believes “that the purpose of life is to be happy”. How can we decide to be purposely happy?

Bring the joy! This is the refrain of the wonderful writer and speaker, Brendon Burchard, who reminds us that we can create our experience by bringing our best self. He suggests doorframe triggers based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; cue, trigger, reward. Every time he enters into a room at work or at home, he has trigger words for how he wants to feel. I’m currently using this gem of his, “I am entering the room as a happy (wo)man, ready to serve”. This way you put yourself in a happy state as you’re arriving. You could also try shouting, “the Princess is here!” or “Head to toe so player”. Which are fun and funny and therefore uplifting.

A to-happy list vs. a to-do list: I can be a slave to my to-do list, vigourously crossing out the items one by one; meditate, exercise, affirmations, journal, achieve world peace etc. Sometimes it feels like I’m going through the motions, spending my meditation time thinking about what I need to do next and anticipating the satisfying crossing off of the list that completing the meditation process will bring. I am trying to bring some more happiness and fun to this process by changing up the way I do things. Listening to how I feel in the moment instead of dogmatically sticking to my list. Like doing a walking meditation or doing some fun bouncing on the rebounder as my exercise (bouncy, bouncy). This is a work-in-progress for me as a die-hard to-doer!

 Like attracts like: Be selective about who you spend time with as this has a huge impact on how you feel. Avoid or minimise exposure to negative ninnies whenever possible. Hang out with the sunshiney people who are always there with a glass half full of something delicious. People around you are a mirror so change your state to happy and you’ll soon see this reflected in every shiny and non-shiny surface. I use Louise Hay’s affirmation, ‘I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am”. Good vibes beget good vibes and so it is.

The Happiness Project: Author Gretchen Rubin devoted a year to researching and experimenting with what brought her the most happiness. Some of her a-ha discoveries include; clean up your house and your brain because all clutter wears us down (minimalism for the win). Accept these two things to build better relationships: You can’t change your partner; you can only change yourself and what you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while (getting the tea for the win). Money is like health – it doesn’t guarantee you’ll be happy, but not having to worry about it makes your life a lot easier (buying and worrying less will help here surely). Many more gems to be found in this great book.

So decide to be happy like Abe said by bringing the joy, following a to-happy list, attracting and mirroring Mr and Mrs Brightside, minimising, and being the best you you can be daily.

I choo choo choo choose happiness!

Love and light and it’s got a picture of a train on it! Xxx Yvette

Brendon Burchard

Bruno Mars: 24K

Ciara: 1,2 step