By and large, I would describe myself as a "happy" person.
Chiara Fucarino describes "those who choose to be happy, and those who choose to be unhappy", and that "It’s quite simple. Happy people have good habits that enhance their lives. They do things differently." She gives a list of 22 things happy people do differently:
1. Don’t hold grudges.
2. Treat everyone with kindness.
3. See problems as challenges.
4. Express gratitude for what they already have.
5. Dream big.
6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
7. Speak well of others.
8. Never make excuses.
9. Get absorbed into the present.
10. Wake up at the same time every morning.
11. Avoid social comparison.
12. Choose friends wisely.
13. Never seek approval from others.
14. Take the time to listen.
15. Nurture social relationships.
16. Meditate.
17. Eat well.
18. Exercise.
19. Live minimally.
20. Tell the truth.
21. Establish personal control.
22. Accept what cannot be changed.
With regard to point (3), problems are for me an opportunity for creative problem-solving and an adventure. I do, however, have a BIG problem with the tendency these days to be politically correct and hyper-positive by never using the word "problem" because - it is falsely claimed - it creates a negative image. Everything is always a "challenge" - Government never has problems, only "challenges"! I disagree with this practice; "problem" immediately makes one couple it with "solution"; in other words, it evokes a need for action, which "challenge" does not.
With point (7), I find that I always (like TV lawyer Petrocelli) try to construct an alternative, kinder scenario that might explain why somebody did something that, on the surface, looks bad.
On point (13), though one shouldn't seek to be validated by someone's approval, it is important that one shows respect for what makes somebody else comfortable, for example, dressing for the occasion. I dress casually as a senior manager in the civil service (golf shirts, jeans) most days at work, but I always make an effort to wear a shirt and/or formal trousers when I attend a meeting the Provincial Minister who heads our department. Very few people will go to a job interview in their beach wear (unless it's a beach job).
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2 comments:
What a wonderful guide to life. I am going to have to pinch this. In fact I think I'll print it out and stick it on my wall. There is far too much negativity about. I have been feeling very deflated in recent times, overwhelmed by all the doom and gloom in the media. This is very refreshing indeed! It should be on every classroom wall and at work places too
I control the controllables, and don't stress or rant about what I have no power over. There's so much injustice in almost every country, but I focus on making a difference at an individual level.
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