Nicole and I are asked by our clients to simplify complex ideas so that they can put these ideas into action. That's something that we love to do. If any idea becomes too complex it becomes very difficult to put those very good ideas into action. Below, we have listed 7 steps to help you move towards the experience of happiness in your life. Of course, there are many different ways to get to the same place, but these simple steps will allow the experience of happiness to permeate your daily life.
Step 1. QUestion yourself. To win the game of life you first have to know how you win. Is winning dying with the most money-will that ensure happiness? Is it living comfortably and safely? Is it inviting adventure into your life? Is it a life filled with love? Is it a life filled with solitude? Is it some combination of the above or something totally different? Whatever it is, you get to decide-what is it that allows the experience of happiness into your life? But, if you don't consciously choose from your heart center, you will never know if you are on the right path towards your goals. And that's the only way to win the game of life.
Step 2. Develop a complete relationship with yourself and knowing of yourself. You can't experience happiness without knowing what really works for you. What does this mean? It means that you discover the unconscious drives that really dictate your actions. If you don't take this step your unconscious drives will completely dominate your life in ways that are often dysfunctional coping behaviors. By developing your consciousness and your awareness you equip yourself with the necessary tools to experience a full and complete life. Think about the opposites. Would you rather be going through life in an unconscious and unaware state? It wouldn't seem so, yet, this is how a large majority of society exists today. Dare to be different!
Step 3. Be authentic and true to yourself. If you understand the necessary requirements to complete steps 1 & 2, step 3 is the natural evolution. Once you know yourself you can take the actions that are in harmony and congruent with your true nature- even if others in this society, bureaucracy, sphere of influence, peers, friends and family disagree with your choice. I recognize that we all live within the rule of law and societal boundaries to ensure our personal safety and liberty. Within these boundaries is a wide scope of individual expression. Find your truth and live it!
Step 4. Do not harm another physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Do your best each day to enjoy life, be kind, and do good within your truth. No one can tell you what enjoying life is for you. Is it reading on a hammock or skydiving? Is it writing or running? When you know yourself and you start to live authentically you will naturally be drawn to a life that fulfills you.
Step 5. Look for and participate in activities that are innately gratifying and satisfying to you. This quest for material items for their own sake has been proven time and again to be a misguided action-a transitory attempt to satisfy the important internal spiritual, psychological, and emotional needs that we carry. Material items are fun and are often a benefit of following your truth. But if you are not a happy person prior to receiving material items research has shown again and again and again that they will not "make" you happy.
Step 6. Don't personalize anything! Let people have their own experience of life without you trying to convince them that you are right and they are wrong. Learn to use your personal judgments and evaluation to decide simply if situations, experiences, or people are good for you are not. We judge and evaluate others constantly and this is a separating experience. When we accept that others have different and yet equally valid beliefs from ours we allow them to coexist with us without us trying to change them. By doing so you free a tremendous amount of psychological energy to be focused on developing your life, your dreams, and following your goals!
Step 7. Invite growth into your life and accept that change is the one constant that we all experience. You can resist change and you can resist growth but by definition that is stagnation. If we are retracting or stagnating we are not growing.
Why do people do live in stagnation or retraction? Especially since the choice seems so obvious when reading about it? Fear. We become acclimated to the idea that change is something to fear. This is why we hold on to bad relationships, bad jobs, or stay in bad situations simply because this fear has become so strong. The only way through this fear is to turn, face it and move through it. This is vastly different than the suppression, repression, and depression that most people use to cover up their fear. You can't cover it up. Fear will show itself in weight gain, dysfunctional coping behaviors, unhealthy life choices, anxiety, depression, and many other ways that are truly messages and your intuitions screaming at you to take care of yourself and honor yourself.
These seven steps are something you can practice every day. You notice that there is no financial requirement. Neither is there a relationship requirement. There is only the requirement that you open yourself to consciousness and awareness. Taking these steps is how you dynamically change your life without some short term motivational technique or trying to follow the latest guru. Honor yourself. Care for yourself. And your life will change
Don Nenninger
Don Nenninger is a published author and recognized leader in the field of human performance. He presents a powerful and holistic perspective on individual development and achievement. His focus is on helping to guide people to making empowered choice which radiate from the center of their being.
Graduating with a Psy. M (psychology) after previously receiving both a BS degree and a BA Degree in human development, sociology and education, he has focused on powerful living. Post-graduate research focused on families, relationships, communication, and human performance. After writing nearly 1500 research pages, he turned his attention to authoring The Infinite Solution which details how people can experience more happiness and abundance in their life.
Helping clients fully embrace and expand their potential is his driving force. Recognizing that lives are driven by the unrecognized beliefs and programming each person has, his focus is on removing reactivity opening each to living in an extraordinary manner. Whether you are a family in conflict, grappling with dissatisfaction, a person who wants to move from good to great, or a company that's looking to perform in an extraordinary manner, consultation with Don Nenninger will bring immediate, tangible, and life lasting results.
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