You Can be Happy, Too!

I had an opportunity to get away this past weekend and think about my journey, these last few years. I got to bike and hike, take pictures of interesting things and I didn't have phone reception, even if I was tempted to use it.

What a difference from my life few years ago. 

Few years ago I found myself working in corporate America. I liked the company's mission, people I worked with and I never understood why I heard so many complaints about corporate culture.

At first, it was a match made in heaven.

Then, I started to work ALL the time. Non-stop. Blackberry beside the pillow. My husband noticed and kindly reminded that what I was doing wasn't natural. I had a great boss and he didn't expect me to work like that, but we all knew we would prove our work ethic by mere fact of who spend more time online. I started to understand I was losing myself in this. I remember seeing people who were genuinely happy and I felt quite miserable.

How do they do it? Some worked in the same environment but it didn't seem to affect them. Once headaches became a constant, along with some slight fatigue — I knew something was off. This was not me.

I started to ask myself questions — what would make me happy? Can anyone be happy with effort? My search lasted two long years during which I honestly thought I was doomed to be miserable. I still had a great attitude towards work, but my personal life was non-existent. This internal search was well worth it: I have never been happier than I am now. I am content, steady and meet every day as it is. Before, I was swimming in the sea of fear and anxiety.

I used my "incubation time" — as I like to call it — to find once and for all what I am supposed to be doing. What is my purpose? I believed that everything would be different if I knew what I was so passionate about and I was right. I had to be patient since the answers didn't come right away.

But I knew there had to be a better way. I hired a coach who helped me see the light. I went back to graduate school to learn about positive psychology and coaching and I got it: I am authentic, genuinely interested in helping others and being the inspiration for people on their path.

Now I now why I had to go through it all myself. I have found what I want to do for the rest of my life and it feels amazing. If I could be happy, you can too! Here's what I learned:

1. If you are not happy, acknowledge it!

2. Start asking questions (see questions I ask myself here).

3. When are you the happiest — answer will likely  not be significant at first, but just pay attention to it now.

4. Why are you doing what you are doing now? Money, success, stuck in a career path?

5. What if you could take the time to explore and change your life once and for all? Would you do it and how ready are you?

6. Are you ready? Repeating this since it is crucial.

7. Start writing, reading and recording ideas. Just start and don't anticipate.

8. Trust the process. Fear not: it may take a while but you will get there if you move confidently in the direction of your dreams (Thoreau). 

More to come on executing ideas and not giving up. 

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