How’s Your Happiness?
If you know me well, you already know that I’m a pretty happy person. While I’ve been through a lot of stuff (as have we all), I’m generally optimistic and upbeat. I’m a geek about all things related to positive psychology, selfish about living my best life, and committed to helping my clients, friends, and family live their best lives. I want to be happy. I think that’s good. I think that’s what God wants from me as well.
So, the question is, how can we be happy? There are countless answers to that, but one that is on my mind these days is:
Happy People Have Projects
I’m at a point in my life where I could retire. I’m at an age with the financial resources to do this, which would be considered “normal” by society’s standards. After Kim passed, I tip-toed into the idea of retirement, and I didn’t like how I felt. I’m the happiest when I have projects—many of them. Important projects. Projects that stretch me, make me grow, and are somewhat scary and have risks. I’m finding that I’m the happiest when I’m stepping out of my comfort zone, through my walls of pain and fear, to the place of endless possibilities.
If happy people have projects, then what do unhappy people have?
Some unhappy people struggle with depression, which is real, and they need help and our understanding and support. But other unhappy people are simply bored, distracted, lazy, tired, pessimistic, or uninspired.
Happy People Have Projects
Don’t just take my word for it. Australian psychiatrist W. Béran Wolfe is quoted as saying, ‘If you observe a really happy man, you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden, or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi Desert.” Social psychologist Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky says, “People who strive for something personally significant, whether it’s learning a new craft, changing careers, or raising moral children, are far happier than those who don’t have strong dreams or aspirations. Find a happy person, and you will find a project.”
How about you? Are you happy? If not, maybe now’s the time to start some cool projects! The second half of this year is right around the corner. Pick a project or two to lean into for the rest of the year. If you don’t know what to do, do a project to improve some aspects of yourself. Your health is a great place to start, improve a relationship, a skill at work, or get better at your art or hobby.
Happy People Have Projects. I believe this, and I will have projects until I die.