This last few weeks I have been doing a course on Happiness.
I work with many clients who are unhappy in their job or career. I wanted to support people better on their personal career coaching journey so I thought I should have some techniques for helping my clients improve their happiness.
It is an online course and it has been so interesting to see what really gives us happiness and what doesn’t. The studies show that money, good grades, the perfect body, won’t give us any more happiness. They also show that it’s not just “how we are” that makes us glass half full or glass half empty people when it comes to our happiness. Lots of our happiness is under our control.
With that in mind, the course has made me reevaluate what I can do to make me happier. Some key factors:
1. Experiences are better than just buying stuff
2. Savour the good moments
3. Have gratitude for what you have that is good
I have spent time this week on holiday with my family and some friends. This experience with friends was better than buying stuff. I am still thinking about it and talking about it. Stopping and savouring the moment was instrumental in improving my happiness and my enjoyment of the holiday. I had to keep still and look at the ocean. Pause and reflect. Then, showing gratitude. Gratitude for my friends, my family and that we have the money to do these experiences.
Of course, unhappiness is also in our control. We sometimes need to make changes through personal career coaching to deliver long term happiness. But not just for the money, but finding a career that uses our strengths and puts us in the “flow” will give us happiness. In the meantime – experience, savour and have gratitude.
If you are interested in knowing more or where the data comes from, please contact me.