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Leadership Lessons: Automatic Happiness

Guest post by: Sylvia Lafair

Article Overview: The push for us to be happy is at an all-time high. It may well be because we are still dealing with an economic downturn that causes people to feel anxiety and sadness and often depression. So, the big question is "Can we be trained to be happy?"

Leadership Lessons: Automatic Happiness

The push for us to be happy is at an all-time high. It may well be because we are still dealing with an economic downturn that causes people to feel anxiety and sadness and often depression.

So, the big question is "Can we be trained to be happy?"

Some research says "Yup, it can be done". Other research says "You've got to be kidding! Not possible!!"

I say we are asking the wrong question. It is really stupid and very immature to put so much focus on that elusive quality called happiness. For one it means a big, shiny new car; for another it is a trip to Cabos, someone else is happy just losing five pounds.

Now when the guy or gal with the shiny car hits that tree in back that honestly wasn't there a minute ago, the happiness evaporates into upset. When the hotel in Cabos is dingy, not like those glossy photos on the web, it is hand wringing time. And damn that scale, it is showing not just the same five pounds back, it is even higher than ever before, it's time to bag the whole thing and have a hot fudge sundae!

Happiness is big business, just ask any advertising agency. It sells the promise of happiness. How about if we rethink the whole idea and see "aliveness" as a more attainable goal? Aliveness, the feeling of being open to what is happening in the moment; aliveness, the ability to feel a variety of emotions and simply know it is like riding a roller coaster with heights and dips and excitement.

One of my favorite quotes is from Helen Keller who had few sensory resources at her beck and call. Yet, she made a life for herself and helped all of us who learned by osmosis about what it feels to be alive. Keep this quote front and center, especially on the days when your "happiness barometer starts to drop.

LIFE IS A DARING ADVENTURE OR IT IS NOTHING!!!

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Article Tags: anxiety, economic downturn, happiness, leadership lessons, sadness



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