How to Live a Happier Life – Track Your Happiness – Part 3
Welcome to the final part of our 3-part series, How to Live a Happier Life. Part 1 offered some tips on how to keep our useful physical body in tip-top shape by detoxifying the body, eating right, breathing deeply, getting off the couch, and drinking more water. Part 2 focused on our thought processes with tips on how to become more positive and magnetic with information on personality types. In Part 3, we’ll discuss how to track your happiness!
Imagine this! You are sitting on your porch in your favorite chair in your old age, reflecting on the tapestry of your life. Are you sitting in the sun with a big smile on your face because you’ve lived your life to the fullest and allowed yourself to take the road less traveled, or are you slumped and miserable because your dreams always seem to elude you and you feel like you’ve missed out or gone unfulfilled? your dream? Did you have a dream to start?
Many Australians will remember our 22nd Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, advising us that life was not meant to be easy, yet he was only telling half the story. George Bernard Shaw’s original quote was “Life was not meant to be easy, my son, but take heart: it can be a delight.”
Following the path that takes us out of our comfort zone is often the path that leads to greater fulfillment. For example, Bill Gates dropped out of college to found Microsoft, Mother Teresa, an Indian Catholic nun, founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta and ministered to the sick, poor, destitute and dying, while expanding her mission throughout India and beyond. the world and Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years in prison for sabotage, went on to facilitate the negotiations that led to multiracial democracy in South Africa in 1994. We may not be as famous, but have the courage to say yes to the opportunities that arise in our lives requires great confidence and self-assurance.
When it comes to taking the plunge, many of us are paralyzed by fear of the unknown. A motivational speaker once said, FEAR is just ‘Fantastic happenings that seem real’. Those of us who have taken the plunge have had to very quickly change our FEAR into a more positive light – ‘Fabulous Energy and Respect’ – Part 2 of this series gives some great advice on overcoming fear). Or it may be that, like me, you are forced to take the next step.
For as many years as I can remember, I have had the words “go to India and work with children” running through my mind. Sometimes, it would be a slight murmur, but other times, she would be crying at the thought of never fulfilling that dream. Although it was agony at times, deep down I was pretty sure I would never trust myself enough to allow myself to go to India and work with children. However, events conspired and my long-term, permanent position at a leading Western Australian university became redundant. At 54, I have run out of excuses not to go.
As the plane began to descend towards Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi, I had a small panic attack. What does it really mean to “go to India and work with children”? What the hell was he doing? I really needed my mother at that time!
Three years later, I now support a wonderful school and children’s home called Balmaitri Shishu Sansthan in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India at a place called Diuli, about 30 kilometers north of Rishikesh in the state of Uttarakhand. I have found sponsors for 19 of the 40 children who live there. Another 80 children walk to school from surrounding villages 6 days a week, some walking up to 10 kilometers a day. To date I have raised about AU$15,000 to support the school and have a great relationship with the founder, Mr Rishi Kumar, the staff and the children.
Balmaitri is now my home away from home and in hindsight the experience turned out to be much less terrifying than I originally thought. In fact, just yesterday I received an envelope full of drawings, letters and gifts from the children for their godparents. It gives me great joy to meet you and be part of your family.
If you have a dream lurking in your conscious or subconscious mind, take heart. Why not take a responsible step and see if you can find a way to jump into the void of an amazing new experience? Some of the advice in Part 2 of this series can help you identify your bliss and give you the courage to follow it, whatever it is. Leave your comfort zone behind and turn your FEAR into a ‘Favorable Exciting Adventurous Route’.
Be the person sitting on the porch in the sun with a smile on your face because you had the courage and skills to explore new paths, say yes to exciting opportunities, and follow your happiness.