The Happiness Blog Post

Okay, you can breathe easy now. This is the happiness blog post.

I’m reading The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. It reiterates everything Jon Gordon said in The Energy Bus and The No Complaining Rule, but it includes the science behind why positive mumbo-jumbo may not be mumbo-jumbo after all.

It’s another positive reinforcement: keep sending positive thoughts and positive actions into the world. The world may not listen, but the action in and of itself makes us feel better about ourselves.

I thanked people for kindness this week. As prescribed in the book, I took a moment to write thank you notes to the people who brighten my days. I was a little worried I would be misunderstood, but I acted with positive intent, put it out into the universe, and shared my gratitude. It works, my friends. Not only that, I still feel pretty fucking awesome (about that, anyway).

What I need to remember for next week: I also owe the people who have caused life’s struggles. Without them, I would not appreciate what I have. I will avoid sending those notes, however. I’m quite mad, not stupid.

Thank you for bringing adversity into my life. Thank you for showing me we can have the same skin color and the same background and still have vastly differing views. Thank you for showing me what hate looks like, so I can avoid it. Thank you for showing me there has to be a better way.

I leave you with my favorite Gandhi quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

I wish people would walk away from the drama, so I have walked away from drama in my life.

I wish people would love one another, be kind to one another, and accept one another for who they are. That’s why I do my best to be kind, accepting, and loving.

I wish peace upon the world. That’s why I meditate, say positive affirmations, and breathe so I don’t react in anger.

I wish joy upon the world. That’s why I write about consent, romance, and love. To me, that’s what happiness is about.

What does happiness mean to you?