Pursuit of Happiness

Posted by summer | at 9:56 PM

 

 Putting It into Practice

1. In thinking about your own genetically determined set-point for happiness, where would you put yourself on the scale from “giddy to grumpy” with “just glad to be alive” in the middle? How have you seen members of your own family settle for or go beyond their own genetic inheritance for happiness?

2. Identify a list of “Best Personal Practices’ with regard to your own happiness by using the following list of questions:
- What have been some of the happiest times in your life? What made them so?
- What do you like most about yourself? What brings out that quality in you? How do you make that quality last?
- What gives you peace of mind?
- What brings out the best in you?
- Who appreciates you the most? Why?
- What are your primary strengths?
- What makes you feel creative, spontaneous, and most alive?
- What are some of your daily habits that lend you a sense of satisfaction and well-being?
3. When was the last time you forayed into the Land of Miswanting? What did you learn at that time in your life that informs your present experience?

4. In the teaching story of the entrepreneur and the fisherman, with which character do you identify more? Why do you think that is so? How would living more like the other affect the quality of your life? In what area of your life do you think you would benefit by replacing “wanting more” with “being satisfied with less”.

5. Consider some of the areas of your life in which you would you like to make some change, see some improvement or increase your level of satisfaction. See if you can determine the difference between what you “need”, what you “want” and what you would “be willing to accept” in each of these areas. How does it feel to come up with your own bottom line? How would knowing “what is enough” affect your satisfaction in each of these areas?

6. Give intentional happiness a try. Declare a happiness day. Do what makes you feel good, useful and fulfilled. Postpone unpleasant tasks, difficult people and negative thoughts for another day.