YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR HAPPINESS

Every week I feel like I should add the hash tag “I love my job” to something I have to do in the line of work. A few weeks ago I was contacted by the managing director of a company who simply stated, “I want my team to be happy, can you help?” That request made me happy!

Happiness comes from within, so it was my mandate to remind his team of what was good about their work, and what they could do about the aspects that they do not love. There are many things one can change, but sometimes circumstances cannot be changed, so the only thing you can do to make a difference, is to change the way you think about it.

We met to consolidate a comprehensive brief, for me to understand who my delegates were to be, and what makes them tick! Ultimately I wanted to ensure that when my intervention was complete, that I had acted as a catalyst to make them think and do differently, and to become a cohesive team. There are always many differences in a team – male and female, fast and slow, drivers and passengers, introverts and extroverts.  I needed to outline how they could understand one another better, show their appreciation and then become a mutually respectful group. We started by getting to know one another better, and some interesting snippets came out. During the day we discussed what makes people happy, what makes them unhappy, and how they could help one another make changes. Interesting too how so many people hate commuting in traffic. Solution? Travel with a colleague, change your route, time or radio station! People come alive when you ask them what raises their spirits. My answers were quick and simple – time in nature, time with family and friends, and time to travel and enjoy my hobbies. So how do I ensure that happiness? By working smarter at work to ensure more time for those pleasurables.

I cannot make anyone happy. Nor can you, but you can try. More importantly, remember that you are responsible to make yourself happy. As a parting thought, remember that one simple solution for finding happiness is to make more time trying to make others happy! Being kind, generous, empathetic and co-operative are a good start. Finding your purpose and slotting into something that feeds your soul, is another. Don’t expect to be happy by accident, have a plan. Write down what makes you happy and how you manage your time to work towards the aspects of your life that provide happiness. Then follow your plan.