If You’re Happy and You Know It
As an Early Childhood Educator and Director of a multi-site childcare organization whenever I fill in as the main Educator for a few minutes, I pull out my trusty sing along song “If you’re happy and you know it”. This past week during a Vision board workshop we were exploring the idea of happiness. As adults do we REALLY know it? When we are happy HOW DO we show it? What is happiness? I was introduced by one of the organizers at the workshop to the thoughts of the author Shawn Achor “Happiness is not all about yellow smiley faces and rainbows. For me, happiness is the joy we feel striving after our potential”.
Many people live their lives in a state of waiting. I will be happy when… By living & believing that hard work & success will bring happiness the person misses out on joy along the way!
Research shows that it is actually the other way around! “that being successful doesn’t automatically make you happier but being happier – being more positive – makes you more successful.” – Shawn Achor
My friend and coach Jessica Burrell recently shared this wisdom with me and I have since incorporated it into my Dare to Declare Vision Board workshops.
Three little words: HAVE, DO and BE
Many of us focus on what we want to HAVE. We DO what we need to get it and then believe it will help us to BE happy, peaceful, content (fill in what you dream of).
If you change the order of the three words to: BE, DO and HAVE
The focus becomes: Who will I BE? What will I DO to transform to her/him and then look what I HAVE!
This is a shift in focus from doing to have things to doing to “be” my best.
Check in…. Are you happy? If the answer is “no” then shift to grateful. Find 3 things every day to be grateful for and write them down. The children are experts at this! Usually candy makes the list and perhaps that is a place for you to begin as well! Think dark chocolate with sea salt…YUM! Notice over 21 consecutive days how this habit of gratitude creates positive energy which can be labelled as happiness!
How do you show you are happy? Begin with a smile! Ever notice how when others smile at you you can’t help but smile back?
SO IF YOU’RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT, tell me why at debbi@debbisluys.com
