I read a post on The Simple Dollar recently entitled “A Sunburn and Two Post-It Notes” (ok….so I read it back in May, but I keep it nearby as a constant reminder…you’ll see why!).
Trent’s post was inspiring and it got me thinking about what makes us happy – truly happy.
Do you know the answer to that question? It’s different for everyone.
And more importantly, is that thing – you know that thing that makes you happy – is it in your life right now?
If you aren’t sure whether or not it’s ‘in your life right now’ – then Wowza do you have a problem!! No, seriously dude, you’ve got a big problem!
How do we get so far detached and separated from those things (people, hobbies, experiences, places) that make us feel truly alive and happy?
The harsh fact: we do it to ourselves – ain’t got no one to blame but the image staring back at you from the mirror!
So how do you fix it after you’ve realized you’re missing out on that one thing (as Jack Palance so powerfully put it in City Slickers)?
I’d like to tell you that it’s an easy fix….but it isn’t.
However, it is a simple fix (Hey! Aren’t easy and simple the same thing, Lisa? No, they aren’t the same thing smarty-pants!).
Let me explain:
As Joel Runyon said in a recent post, “Simple might be hard, but easy sucks.”
What I believe Joel means by this is that simple tasks are uncomplicated – you either do them or you don’t. There aren’t a lot of sub-tasks and categories – you just do them.
But easy tasks – well Joel sums it up well, “Just because something is easy, doesn’t mean it will be worth it.”
Easy tasks don’t get you what you want. Easy tasks are a waste of time.
Well then, you might be wondering, if fixing my big problem is so simple – but not easy – how do I get H-A-P-P-Y?
How do I get from where I am … to … where I want to be??
I’ve developed a tool – an ‘ethos‘ as I like to call it – that you can get here for free; which will help you realize A) where you’re spending all your precious time and B) where you really want to spend your precious time (with loved ones, doing a favorite hobby, learning something new, traveling????). It may sound silly to say – but sometimes we become so lost that we don’t even know what we want to be doing, we just know we’re unhappy. This ethos can get you started on the right track.
Happy trails! (did you just hear David Lee Roth’s voice in your head, too?)
Download the Take Your Life Back!! Ethos here
I hope you find this ethos helpful and please do contact me if you have any questions at all on how to implement these suggestions. I’d love to hear from you!
And here’s a link to Trent’s original post, enjoy:
Lisa
p.s. What one activity fulfills you the most?? Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a free copy of my eBook How to Stay in the Priority Zone.