12 Feb Take control of your happiness and live
Here's an interesting and positive article in which I found The Happiness Institute and my CHOOSE happiness model quoted; I hope you find it helpful…
By Nicole Ferrie (HERE)
BEAUTIFUL Michele King walked her little boy Ryan in to school last week, achieving a goal that helped her through the darkest days of cancer.
Michele, diagnosed with stage-four cancer when Ryan was 10 months old, never thought she would see him walk or talk.
Almost five years later, the mother of three has learnt to treasure every moment of joy despite the constant threat of death. In doing so, Michele has taught so many about courage and determination. About fear. About the power of a mother’s love.
But what she has also taught us is how to be happy – to value the things that matter and let the bad stuff fall away.
To see light when there is so much darkness.
Her inspiring story has prompted much discussion of late about perspective and choices – and what you really need to be happy.
According to The Happiness Institute, happy people have more and better quality relationships. They are likeable and nice, challenge themselves, are positive, vary their routines, practise and appreciate gratitude, are optimistic, healthy and importantly, know how to have fun.
The institute promotes the CHOOSE theory: Clarity of goals, direction and purpose; Healthy living; Optimism or positive but realistic thinking; the importance of Others; Strengths and using those rather than trying to fix weaknesses; and Enjoying the moment, rather than living in the past.
It’s a simple theory another friend of mine has adopted for some time.
She says she is no longer recruiting. It has nothing to do with employment – but her friendship circles.
She has her networks, surrounds herself with good people and nurtures those relationships.
In a busy world of working full time, parenting and marriage, she knows key relationships are important and spends her time focusing on those rather than looking to add to her already wide circle of family and friends.
That’s not to say new friends have not come along from time to time, but she has learnt to cull negativity and invest in relationships that are good for her well-being. And she is happy.
It’s a simple choice, really.
Good people surround themselves with good people. They laugh and have fun. They set goals together rather than feeding off each others’ bad habits. They tackle challenges rather than dwelling on problems. They are active and healthy. They help each other grow. They give to others – and they get things done.
They’re not needy, or draining of your energy. They’re not the people who know your weaknesses and use them to keep you down in order to keep themselves up. They’re the people who make healthy, positive choices that lead to a fulfilling and productive life.
It’s an old saying that to be happy you really only need three things: something to do, something to love and something to hope for.
And you find that when you do those things, other parts of your life fall in to place.
As Michele often says, don’t sweat the small stuff. Love your friends and family. Tell them!
Appreciate every day for what it is.
It is true that happiness is a choice – and ultimately, it’s not that hard. If something in your life is making you unhappy, change it. If you don’t like something about yourself, change it. No one else can do it for you.
Take control of your own happiness and open yourself up to being able to fully live your life.
Learn from Michele – whose smile warms the world. If she can find reason to smile, shouldn’t we all?