Sometimes we think we could be happier if…
I’m sure more stress is caused when pondering over what could or couldn’t be done, what we should or shouldn’t change, than by the actions of doing and changing.
Some years ago, I came across a way of tackling this that has helped me enourmously to remain happy at work and in my personal life, but mainly at work, as this is the area where I have to take most decisions. Let me share this with you. Who knows, it might be of some help at some point.
- (Let’s write a list.) Identify what is not right.
- Is changing this beyond your control? Then stop worrying about it and come up with strategies to deal with it.
- If changing it is within your control, decide whether you want to change it. Really, do. If you are going to change it do it soon, it won’t change by itself. (Or it might, but not in the way you desire.)
- If you are not going to change “it”, accept that you are not going to change it and move on.
In case I haven’t expressed myself correctly, here is a more succint way of saying more or less the same thing.
“Focus on what you can do in any given situation, rather than on what you can’t do or aren’t allowed to do.”
Bruce Rosenstein in Learn from Peter Drucker, Leadership Excellence March 2010
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY AT WORK?
It seems like an easy question but, apparently, it’s not. According to Daniel Gilbert (author of Stumbling on Happiness), people are not very good at predicting those things that make them happy.
It is also possible that the things that are keeping you engaged at work would be classified as “small”, such as solving a small problem, getting a difficult phone call over and done with or helping a colleague at work.
Identify what makes you happy and see if there is any way to do more of it. Give yourself time to think about this: just because it’s not obvious, it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Once you have identified “it” you will be more alert to the possibilities that might form themselves around you. See what things at work can be changed or eliminated to create space for more meaningful activities – “meaningful” to yourself, your team and your organisation.
We spend so much time of our lives at work (or thinking about work or the possibility of work) that we deserve to give ourselves a chance to be as happy there as we can. Not always possible, but worth striving for.
Was this post useful? Make sure to read Roll Out Your Happiness Programme.
Illustration by arte_ram
