Happiness – Page 5 – Disney Leadership Keynote Speaker

Happiness Is…

Lorie Sheffer’s post today offers a thought provoking challenge. It gets us thinking, and that is one of the reasons we tune in every Sunday. Take it away Lorie:

“Happiness = spending time with people who love you for who you are instead of just accepting you for who you are.”

I have a rather eclectic mix of friends, to say the least. One of my favorites wrote this as her Facebook status update. I am so fortunate to have amazing people in my life who, according to some, are eccentric or odd or different. Which is the reason I love them in the first place. They dare to be themselves no matter what.

Do you love your friends or family in spite of things about them you consider to be different or odd or out of the norm, or because of it? How about the reasons people choose to spend time with you? Are you your real, authentic self, or are you trying to fit the mold that society expects and readily accepts?

Lorie gives us a good paradox to work on this week. Did you know there are actually people who dislike healthy, active friends. And there are people who dislike those who are sedentary.

MidLife Clear Conscience?

“What can be added to the happiness of a person who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscious?” — unknown

If ever there was a logical goal in life, perhaps this one should be near the top.

Simple.

Elusive.

Impossible?

Unhappiness Is Our Fault

“Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations.” — Edward de Bono

There are many ways to start talking about this. And initially, I was simply going to let the quote “speak for itself”, without any additional dialogue.

However, me being me, well, that obviously didn’t happen.

But compromise is in order and I will end this Mid Life Celebration blog post with a top-of-mind thought.

Once I started writing, consistently, back in March, a transformation began. As if something inside me was awakened and began to grow. And then suddenly realized, I hadn’t even begun to discover what was possible.

Talk about a joyful experience. Undiscovered joy, newly found, was remarkably humbling. And humility brings incredible joy.

Oh, and by the way….

“Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations.”

Happiness Is Your Nature

“Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside.” — Ramana Maharishi

Yesterday’s post spoke of escape, implying that when faced with an overwhelming obstacle, we may run from it, try to avoid it, ignore it, medicate it, deny it, etc.

We are always going to be faced with life’s challenges. And the proverbial mid life crisis is more or less a universal phenomenon for virtually all adults.

We get to a place, don’t like it, and then think we can take a short cut to move past it. Maybe. Maybe some can. I certainly couldn’t.

However, when I started to look inside for the answers instead of outside, my life began to transform.

Consider this, there is infinite joy to be had, to be discovered, to be shared. I mean, happiness is our nature.

When I dream without any limits, I dream of others having this wonderful mid life celebration, instead of the proverbial midlife crisis.

December Dedicated to Joy

November was dedicated to Thankfulness, and now December is dedicated, mostly, to Joy.

There are several types of Joy.

There’s Joy in your Spirit, in knowing you have a Creator that loves you beyond measure.

Joy in daily living, perhaps the “fun factor”, sort of like happiness, and laughter.

And also Joy in being unselfish, in serving others.

Finally, I believe there is Joy in knowing you are living your best life, with a moral integrity that leaves you humbled by what you’ve overcome.

It’s a Joy, to dedicate December to the concept of Joy. You may have a different perspective on Joy. The fact that we are free to express, and think for, ourselves should bring us Joy.

One thing for sure, I’m especially thankful for Mid Life Joy! 🙂