Because I'm Happy. This Week.
Nile Harris
Equipping Life Science innovators to actualize strategy, accelerate results, and build high-performing leaders + everyday warriors ??
Happiness is a choice. One of the ways that I choose happiness is to give up being right. In the spirit of the Hunt for Happiness week, I'm sharing additional ways that you can choose happiness this week.
Back when the Oprah show was on the air, I was an avid Dr. Phil watcher. In one episode, he was working with a husband and wife who were having frequent disagreements. Then he said something to both of them that made me think. In the midst of their on-stage disagreement, he said, 'you can be right, or you can be happy.' ??
He went on to explain that one of them was being a right-fighter instead of seeking to reach an agreement. They were so committed to their position and bending the other person to their will that they were choosing discord and, ultimately, unhappiness instead of peace. I began approaching many situations like this. Relationships, work, you name it. That's when I truly started to understand the statement that happiness is a choice.
If your fists are always closed around the banner of being right, your hands are never open to receive happiness.
I'm challenging you to hunt for happiness this week. Every day you will do one small thing to choose happiness. Save this post!
Day 1: Say I ?? Mondays
This is a tough one. In 2022, I challenged myself every Monday to greet the day with a smile and cheer. While I succeeded most Mondays, it was not without its challenges. One time I sent #TGIM to someone on Teams. They responded back with that's not a thing. ??
Do I like Mondays more now? Nope. But I do appreciate that it's another opportunity to get it right. Apparently, I'm one of those weird people that believes the week begins on Monday. Unfortunately, this tends to give me the Sunday scaries. This is a high level of anxiety brought about by the mere thought of Monday. So now 2023 is about finding a solution for that.
Day 2: Practice Gratitude Hourly
This will be super easy. Set a timer for 60 minutes. At the one-hour mark, write down one thing for which you're grateful. It can be a word or a sentence. Do this every hour for five hours straight.
Practicing gratitude in this way will bring you back to the present. As a reminder, this is the second principle of being a warrior - Awake.
One of the things that causes suffering is living in the disappointment gap between your expectation and your reality.
Day 3: Embrace The Suck
Yeah, it's going to sting sometimes. Whew! There will be times when the water feels like it's above your head. This is not the time for toxic optimism. This is when you embrace radical and inconvenient truths about the situation. Hold on to one thing that brings you happiness and focus on it for ten minutes.
Petting or playing with your pet for 10 minutes has incredible stress-relieving benefits. Take a 20-minute walk around your neighborhood. Leave the phone inside or at least set it to silent. Take five minutes to journal your feelings. Even if all you do is say, "WTF, this sucks." This can release the immediate pressure of the moment. Meditate and visualize what your life will look like when you make it past this moment.
Day 4: Cheer For Others
Few things are more demoralizing than when you're busy embracing the suck and seeing someone on social media killing it. First, remember that people mostly post their highlight reels, not their bloopers. Second, cheer for them.
Yes! Even when it's not your season, you need to cheer for others. There is science behind this. Cheering will release happiness hormones hitting the reward center of your brain. Because your brain wants that hit again, it will make micro-decisions to bring about that result. So when someone gets a promotion, a new job, a new house, gets engaged or has a baby, and it's something you want for yourself but don't have it yet - I want you to cheer like Jamie Lee Curtis did for Michelle Yeoh when she won the Golden Globe.
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Day 5: Do A Small Thing
A small thing that I love to do that brings me joy is cleaning up and organizing my workspace or any space. After I organize the space, I will revisit it frequently throughout the day to look at it. Organizing might be a big thing for you. If so, don't do it. Literally, think of the smallest, weirdest thing that brings you joy and do that.
I'll give you a freebie here if you really can't think of anything. Watch dog videos for ten minutes. Another mood booster for me is scrolling through the #Sephora website.
Day 6: Do A Big Thing
When I say to do a big thing, it should be big for you. Don't take someone else's big thing because it may be too small or too overwhelming for you. Whatever you choose, it should be a little bit scary for you, but achievable.
Why does doing something scary make you happy? The key is to make it achievable so that when you accomplish it you are proud of yourself. This pride releases another happiness hormone hitting the reward center of the brain. Then you will want to do it again and again.
Need an idea? What is something you've been holding off on because you're scared to be seen? Do you want to create content or post a video? Do it!! In 2020 I posted 100 videos on various platforms. They were terrible, and I didn't die from the embarrassment.
Day 7: Dealer's Choice
This day is entirely up to you. The only requirement is that your hands be open. Whatever you are holding on to, release it.
Until Next Time
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Senior Executive PSS R&I Primary Care AstraZeneca
2 年Happy birthday Nile!