Happiness- Do you want fries with that?

» Posted by Claire Affleck on Jan 6, 2010 in 0-smile, blog | 1 comment

In today’s modern society we can get most everything in an instant. Fast food.  Fast cars.  Instant messages.  Emails.  Text messages.  Online ordering.  Instant gratification.  One would think that with everything being right at our finger tips that we would be happy with all of this instant gratification.  Why then are so many people unhappy?

While many of our needs, wants, and desires can be taken care of instantly many more cannot and this is where many people become restless and unhappy.  Success in any aspect of life does not happen instantly.  No body, no matter what the tabloids say, literally becomes successful or famous or rich over night.  Successful people work hard, are determined, and often, according to Malcolm Gladwell, put in over 10,000 hours of practice before making it big.  If Jack Canfield had wanted instant success he never would have gotten the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books published. He would have given up because over 100 publishers turned him down before any one told him yes.  That was not instantaneous.  A lot of people believe that becoming more successful will make them happy.  If they are going to wait until they are successful to be happy then they’ve missed out on enjoying the journey that takes you there. Imagine if the Beatles had not enjoyed their 10,000 hours of practice before becoming famous.  If you are already happy and enjoying life, then logging in the hours and working hard is an afterthought and success will come.

This brings me to the most important point. No thing, no amount of success, fame, or money, can MAKE you happy. YOU must make yourself happy! When you are a happy person from the inside out then no matter what comes or doesn’t come your way, it’s something you can handle.  If your happiness depends on a certain number in the bank account, or what other people think of you then your happiness is vulnerable to outside influences.

Happiness does not come in an instant; you cannot order it in the drive thru with a side of fries.  Be a happy person first, appreciate the journey, and success will find you.

Claire Affleck
Claire Affleck Training website
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