Do you know people who seem to be grumpy every day? When my colleague Claire sent me the below video – it moved me. The simplicity of the message. It is absolutely worth a few moments to experience a wonderful source of happiness – that is available to the grumpiest of soles.
Most people go through life as a passenger. They feel they don’t have control of their life because they think they are helpless when things happen ‘to’ them. They react, often angry or feeling directionless – rather than making a considered response. Many people who appear ‘unhappy’ are often playing the ‘blame game’; that is, it is everybody else’s fault that they have the life they have. With the simple antidote of being grateful, how they experience those same circumstances could be vastly altered… for the better.
Lesson One “Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections.” – Unknown
Some of the poorest nations in the world are considered the happiest. [According to the World Happiness Index]
Lesson Two “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”– Frederick Keonig
In western cultures we have somehow established that to have ‘things’ means that we will be happier. We also have a notion that some day everything will be perfect, i.e. the absence of problems and difficulties will mean that ‘everything will be fine’ – in fact the reverse is true.
When we give generously of ourselves; our time and listening – our general sense of well-being is improved (and sustainable over time). [According to the New Economic Forum]
Lesson Three “A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.” — Helen Keller
If life was perfect and we had no bad times we are less able to appreciate good times. In fact, when people toil together to overcome adversity – the shared experience also improves our overall well-being.
Seth Godin wrote the below blog:
The loneliness epidemic
The next time you feel lonely, disconnected or unappreciated, consider that unlike many other maladies, this one hits everyone. And unlike other challenges, this one is easily overcome by realising that you can cure the problem by connecting, appreciating and leading.
The minute we realise that the person sitting next to us needs us (and our tribe, our forward motion and the value we create), we’re able to extinguish their aloneness as well as ours.
When you shine a light, both of you can see better.
When you meet someone who seems predisposed to being ‘grumpy’, give them some extra appreciation – and maybe your gratitude will be infectious.
Have fun – and I look forward to hearing how you go.
This experiment – touched, moved and inspired me
