You are the best one to answer the question, “what makes YOU happy?” But in our busy lives, we often don’t take the time to ask ourselves this question or go deep enough. Now is the time!
Happiness List Exercise
Today, we are going to do a fun little exercise to create your own happiness list. (This is adapted from a great book called ‘How We Choose To Be Happy’ by Foster & Hicks.)
You need to have 10 minutes of focused time. If you have that time right now, go ahead and keep on reading. But if you are at work and likely to be interrupted or dinner is about to be put on the table, block 10 minutes this evening or in the next day or two to where you can work uninterrupted. If you work off an electronic calendar, put in the following link: http://thehappinesscoach.biz/?p=511 which will get you back to this post.
Ok, now stop reading until you have your 10 minutes. (Seriously, this will be a much more productive exercise if you don’t read this until you have that uninterrupted time.)
Ready to start?
Get out a blank sheet of paper, a good writing instrument and a timer. Set the timer for 4 minutes.
Next, email yourself this list, so you’ve always got it. Put something really obvious in the subject line like happiness list, so you can find it when you want it. Feel free to add on to this list as other things come to you.
Keep the list handy as next week we’ll spend some more time with it.
Finally, share with us what you are going to do. Commit to it by making a public declaration in the comments below.
Then enjoy the treat you’ve scheduled for yourself!
Eric Karpinski The Happiness Coach