Podcast #485

 

THE ART OF HAPPINESS, EVEN IF YOUR LIFE IS A MESS

 

Everyone wants to be happy, but most people aren’t. You can learn how to tap into a life of happiness, even if your life is a mess, once you learn the art of happiness. In this coaching podcast, learn why happiness sometimes eludes you and how you can create more happiness in your life, without your circumstances changing. Get the full show notes at www.trishblackwell.com/485

 

In this episode of The Confidence Podcast, we’re talking about:

• How happiness isn’t an accident, and you can create it for yourself
• Why some people are happy and others aren’t
• The art of happiness, and how to engage in it daily 
• The messiness of a happy life and what happy really looks like 

Happy International Women’s Day!

 

REVIEW OF THE WEEK 

Go glad.

Hi Trish, I had found your podcast via “keep the faith” about 4 years ago. I do believe God led me to you. Growing up I had a wonderful loving family (still do) however I always felt sad. IT made me feel even worse because I didn’t have anything to make me feel that way. I ‘ve always had felt left out and struggled with friend issues that made me feel like something is wrong with me. I have been hooked on your podcast and I tell everyone about you because I have feel myself improving!!! Slowly but surely. I not longer thank I’m the only one. And boy, is that a relief! You have BLESSED me for these past 2 years and all for FREE!!!!! I feel the LOVE and “back at cha baby!” So glad I joined the college for the next chapter of Happiness! Love, Deanna

Everyone’s life is messy.

Your circumstances aren’t what make you happy – your thoughts are.

 

HAPPINESS ISN’T AN ACCIDENT

It’s not just for the lucky.

It’s for the intentional.

It’s available to everyone.

1. Decide to be happy.
2. Study happy people.
3. Know your happy habits.
4. Practice the art of active appreciation.
5. Ground yourself in gratitude.

NBC news poll recently found that only 14% of Americans reports to be very happy. That’s down from 31% who said the same in 2018. 45% of Americans reported feeling isolated or lonely. 

 

Two thirds of adults globally 

(64%) report being happy: 14% very much so and 50% rather so. Countries with the highest proportion of adults considering themselves as very happy are Canada (29%), Australia, Saudi Arabia and India (28% each), Great Britain and the United States (27% each). (Global Happiness Study 2019) 

 

WHY AREN’T YOU HAPPY? 

Most likely because you’re looking to your circumstances to make you happy.

It’s your thoughts that creates happiness, not what happens in your life. 

Too focused on the wrong things 

-fear

-what could go wrong

-“being realistic”

-avoiding emotions

-what other people might think

-achievement for fulfillment

We’re distracted by our own business

We stay too busy to be happy. 

 

UNHAPPINESS CONTRIBUTORS

1. Comparison to others.
2. Lack of gratitude
3. Stuck in comfort zone
4. You don’t move your body
5. You are always in your past or your future
6. Flawed beliefs (thinking it’s supposed to be easier, or that negative emotions shouldn’t exist)
7. Busyness (too busy to think, reflect, notice, self-care, live well) 

95% of our 60-80,000 thoughts per day are repeated thoughts. 

 

THE ART OF HAPPINESS

HAPPINESS HABITS

Activate appreciation

Reframing thoughts

Mental maintenance 

Physical activity

Time to be

Other Contributors to Happiness

Adventure

Falling is learning

Openness 

Curiosity

Happiness doesn’t mean that it’s a state of permanence.

It’s an emotion, that ebbs and flows, and when you feel it, you ride it. When is recoils, you know another wave is coming – nothing has gone wrong.

“there is taken care of”

Intentional and active appreciation

What about others who drag you down?

“must stink to be in their brain…”

“there thoughts are their choices, I’m grateful I know how to not stay in a funk 

 

OTHER RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

#483: Self-Validation: The Art of Not Needing Other People to Tell You “Good Job”

#474: Affirmations for a Happy Holiday

#450: How to Stop Feeling Awful About Yourself

#430: How to Make a Good Life a Great Life

 

LISTENER OF THE WEEK:

Hi Trish. I’ve been listening to your content for the last couple of years! I think you are amazing and love what I learn from you. However, I have one big thing holding me back in life. _________. I continue to beat myself up over it. I am a God loving woman and often wonder how I could have done such a thing. I always hear you say you are worthy, but wonder does that still apply to me? Am I s till worthy? I am curious to your opinion as a fellow Christian woman. Thank you.

 

Do you feel like God couldn’t possibly use you? Remember:

Noah was a drunk

~ Abraham was too old

~ Isaac was a daydreamer

~ Jacob was a liar

~ Leah was ugly

~ Joseph was abused

~ Moses was a murderer had a stuttering problem (Moses stuttered)

~ Gideon was afraid

~ Samson  was a womanizer

~ Rahab was a prostitute

~ Jeremiah and Timothy were too young

~ David was an adulterer and a murderer

~ Elijah was suicidal

~ Isaiah preached naked

~ Jonah ran from God

~ Naomi was a widow

~ Job went bankrupt

~ John the Baptist ate bugs

~ Peter denied Christ

~ The disciples fell asleep while praying

~ Martha worried about everything

~ The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once)

~ Zacchaeus was too small

~ Paul was too religious

~ Timothy had an ulcer

~ Lazarus was dead!

***Unknown Author***

God can use anyone – Verses & Quotes

2 Corinthians 12:9, NLT My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.