12 Ways to Happiness

These tips come from Prevention magazine. I really like them because I have found these ideas to be helpful in gaining perspective in my own life when I have felt out of balance.


Know what to want : Sometimes I get off track and find that I have too many obligations/commitments. When this happens I remind myself of what is important to me by journaling or thinking about what my priorities are.

Savor mystery : The beauty and mystery of life....what does it mean to savor it? Learning how to not be "in control" or to know what is coming next can bring a new sense of excitement and gratitude to your life.


Diversify your good deeds : How many kinds of good deeds can you do in one day? A smile, hold a door open for someone, give a heartfelt thank you to someone in your life that you appreciate, give your time to someone who is lonely...many small acts of kindness mean a lot to the person receiving, but will also add to your sense of contribution to the greater good.

Hope for small changes, not big ones : Small changes add up! I have learned that having a goal and the experience of moving towards that goal is full of personal learning and growth. Give yourself enough time for change, find ways to accept and allow along the way, and recognize your accomplishments!

Invest in experiences, not stuff : Nuff said!

Shift your focus : Shift your mood by focusing on positive emotions—curiosity instead of fear, compassion instead of anger—leads to broader, more flexible thinking, more playfulness and exploration, and richer social connections.

Let your mind wander : Giving yourself permission to just day dream without any attachment to outcome is a healthy way to relax and rejuvenate. Think about the times as a kid when you layed in the grass watching the sky or swung on a swing for the pure joy!

Give money away : In a study, the researchers gave people $5 or $20 with instructions to spend the money on themselves, on someone else, or to donate it. Those who gave the money away or spent it on others—no matter the amount—were happier than those who used it for themselves.

Chat up your spouse like a stranger : Who knows what you will learn? I know that after being married for 32 years, I tend to think I know everything there is to know about my partner. A fresh perspective and attitude may spark some interesting conversations!

Settle for good enough : My motto, my best is good enough.

Know when to fold 'em : Learn when to let things go, develop the ability to understand when you have reached the end of something whether it is a job, a friendship, a project, etc;








Make something : Creating something allows us to be in the flow, lose track of time and use another part of our brain that most of us don't get to use to often. Paint, write, garden, bake, learn a new craft, the possibilities are there and we are all creative in some way!

Focus!

"Often he who does too much does too little." Italian Proverb

focus = a center of interest or activity, close or narrow attention; concentration

Focus and concentration, or lack of, has become an issue for people in our modern culture.

Many, many articles and books have been written about time management, how to get more done with less time, the pros and cons of multi-tasking, etc;

My own struggles with focus and concentration stem from competing thoughts, emotions and desires within me. A review of my habits has shown me that I have often procrastinated in my life. I do wonder about that. At times I thought that I just liked the rush of a deadline, getting a project done just in time! But on closer inspection, the things I procrastinate about are often things/tasks I just don't really want to do. How is it that something I don't really want to or feel like doing ended up on my list of tasks? Do we all do that? I think a high percentage of us do.

To be focused, to be able to concentrate on completing a task or project I think it first must have a high importance to us, in other words it must be a priority in our lives. Sometimes the first step in developing more focus and concentration is deciding what our priorities really are. Saying yes to everything will leave a person feeling burnt out and probably not really accomplishing much!

Simply making a list of your tasks, projects and responsibilities and then prioritizing them will naturally help you to focus. Use an ABC system with A representing tasks that take top priority. When you have decided what your top priorities are, start working on them, one at a time! We are so often tempted to work on more than one thing at a time because we believe we are being more efficient but studies have shown this not to be true.

"The shorter way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time."
Mozart

Next time you need to get something done but feel unfocused and unable to concentrate ask yourself:
---Do I have to do this?
---Do I want it done so it's not on my mind?
---Will it be any easier later? How much of my energy am I giving up just "thinking" about it?
Asking these questions can give you the incentive you need to focus and complete whatever needs your attention.

Is Your Personality suited to your Work?

Are you familiar with the Enneagram?

The Enneagram Institute is the premier site for learning about the enneagram.

The Enneagram is a vast and profound system and like any profound system, it takes a certain amount of work and time to master its subtleties and complexities.
From one point of view, the Enneagram can be seen as a set of nine distinct personality types, with each number on the Enneagram denoting one type. It is common to find a little of yourself in all nine of the types, although one of them should stand out as being closest to yourself. This is your basic personality.

I found an interesting article the other day which uses the enneagram personality types and identifies how each type operates and exists within the world of business and work. See if you can spot yourself!

1. The Reformer - focused on using your work/company as a means to improve the world. Unwavering ability to run your business/conduct your work with integrity and ethics.
2. The Helper - provides an extremely high level of assistance and service to customers. Customer focused.
3. The Achiever - Business/work is centered around your high energy and charisma. The business is built around your personality.
4. The Individualist - You are reserved but highly creative. The business/work is built around your unique talents and creativity.
5. The Investigator - Your business/work is based on future vision and will operate with a curiosity about the world around you.
6. The Loyalist - Your business/work is focused on fixing problems and excels at problem solving.
7. The Enthusiast - Your business is full of life, energy and optimism. Your customers/clients will feel that your company has a playful and "can do" attitude.
8. The Challenger - You define the essence of entrepreneurship and have the ability to create great businesses.
9. The Peacemaker - Nurturing and harmony are key to your work, and you have an ability to survive and persist with an inner calm and strength.

Understanding ourselves and others helps to build great businesses. This of course is just a small, small piece of information regarding the enneagram and personalities types. Check out the Enneagram Institute at http://www.enneagraminstitute.com - they have some free personality tests along with a few other helpful resources.