In Search of Happy.....

In recent times, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many people through some truly inspiring coaching conversations. I’ve been amazed to hear their stories and talk to them about their passion and motivators.

What has also surprised me, is how many people associate with being ‘hyper-achievers’, ‘goal oriented’ and ‘results driven’. It’s also amazing how as a society we love to hear people talk about these. Interestingly, whenever I’ve spoken to people about what will make them happy, I’ve often drawn blanks. It’s also incredibly fascinating to see how we find it so easy to try and find happiness in turning someone else’s goals (employers usually!) into our barometers for happiness. And yet once we achieve these goals, we stay unhappy. Why should achieving goals not make me happy?

The lack of happiness is just a manifestation of not knowing what you want. We live in such a noisy world - The noise from social media (look at others – how happy they are!), the noise from the society (do this, do that, don’t waste time, don’t lose focus), the noise from within you (I’m not good enough, fast enough, strong enough). All of the noise just kills that one small voice that’s asking – What do I want? What’s my purpose?

And ever-so-often we let this purpose get overtaken by money, position, power.

I was recently reading and article by Hubert Joly (former chairman and CEO of Best Buy, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School) on Creating a Meaningful Corporate Purpose. In the article, Joly spoke about defining a ‘corporate why’ and making sure it guides decisions and operations - therefore becoming a cornerstone of doing business.?As I was reading, I began to think about how all of what he is talking about makes sense for me as well.

If you look around or talk to people, you’ll realize that often the ‘happiest’ people are not the one’s at the top of the corporate ladder but those who have been able to define this ‘purpose’ for themselves and then making sure that it guides decisions and becomes the cornerstone of their being.

Borrowing from him, to land on an authentic, credible, powerful and a ‘meaningful to you’ purpose consider these aspects.

1)??????What does the Universe need you to do?

2)??????What are you passionate about?

3)??????How can you create Economic Value?

4)??????What are you uniquely good at?

It’s this cross section that will often lead to your purpose.?

As you do this, ask yourself some questions (read these slowly and think about them for a few seconds before moving on)

• If YOU could be doing anything right now, what would you be doing?
• What would YOU love to do over and over again even if you failed?
• What are YOU missing?
• How are YOU feeling? And more importantly, How DO you want to feel?

Your answers should push you to start thinking about your purpose.

So here’s my challenge to you… Do you have it in you to be selfish for once and truly put your happiness first??