Today, Noah St. John is going to share with us 5 forgotten ways to be happy. With the New Year here, I figured that his inspirational words comes at a perfect time to help us reach some of our resolutions. Noah St. John’s books are known for helping people reach breakthrough performance. He appears frequently in the news, including CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, National Public Radio, Forbes.com, Los Angeles Business Journal, Chicago Sun-Times, Washington Post, and The Huffington Post. Here is Noah’s advice.
Realize What You Want
When I lived in Los Angeles in the early 1990’s, I worked as a temp at big movie studios. I decided it was okay if I took little things like pens and Post-It notes from these offices because I figured, “Hey, I’m broke; and who’s going to miss it anyway?”
But then a funny thing kept happening over and over again. In a few weeks, the position would be filled by someone else, and I’d be back on the street, shuffling from one temp job to another.
After many painful experiences like this, I started to wonder what in the world was going on. Then I began studying universal principles and began to realize that your thoughts create your life. I had never considered that my habits and beliefs were creating my life; up until then, I just thought I was a victim and that God didn’t like me.
One day, I was contemplating the universe in my tiny apartment when I had a stunning realization. I realized that by my actions of taking office supplies, I was telling the Universe: I don’t have.
My habits were saying: I don’t have.
And the Universe reflected back to me, “Okay, you don’t have.” But that was not what I wanted for my life.
Pick A New Attitude
The very next day, my phone rang. The temp agency was offering me a new position at one of the most prestigious movie studios in town. When I showed up, as if on cue, my new boss showed me to the Promised Land – the office supply cabinet! When the doors opened, I actually heard angels singing. My boss literally said, and I swear I’m not making this up, “Help yourself to whatever you need.” Whatever I need?! I’m going to need a bigger duffel bag!
But as I stood there salivating, I remembered what I had finally realized about coming from a place of not-enough. And I said to myself, “Noah, if you keep coming from a place ‘I don’t have’, you’re going to keep not having. Is that what you want for your life – a life of not having?”
When my boss walked away, my hands, shaking, slowly shut the cabinet doors. And I never took anything from that office – not even a paper clip.
Shortly after that incident, I began, for the first time, to ask myself what I really wanted to do with my life. And I realized that I wanted to write books, lead seminars, and teach people how to live happier, richer lives… even though I had no idea how to do that.
Five years later, I discovered Afformations and developed what eventually became The Power Habits System. In 1997, I started my company SuccessClinic.com in my college dorm room, and today I’m privileged to coach heart-centered entrepreneurs on six continents through our live seminars, online workshops, and mastermind programs.
But if I had stayed with my old habits of coming from “I don’t have”, there’s no way I’d be so happy doing what I’m doing today.
5 Ways To Be Happy
Here, then, are 5 forgotten ways to be happy, even if everything around you is saying that you can’t.
1. Realize that you have much more than you think you do.
Do you have food, water, electricity, a computer, a phone, an Internet connection? Congratulations. You’re rich.
2. Keep a Gratitude Journal.
Every morning, write 5 things you’re grateful for. Encourage your kids to keep one too. The more you focus on what you have, the more you’ll have to be grateful for.
3. Use AFFORMATIONS.
Afformations (not “affirmations”) are empowering questions that focus your mind on what you have instead of what you lack. Download the first chapter of The Book of Afformations® for free here.
4. Stop The Negative
Notice when you say things like, “I can’t afford it” or “I’ll never have enough money.” Remove those negative phrases from your vocabulary, because not only will the Universe reflect your words back to you, your kids will also hear what you’re saying and it will become their reality, too.
5. Express Gratitude
At the dinner table, ask your kids what they are most grateful for today. Doing this simple habit will encourage their thoughts to come from a place of enough.
In the words of Lao Tzu: “Watch your actions; for they become habit. Watch your habits; for they become character. Watch your character; for it becomes your destiny.”
I hope you enjoyed Noah St. John’s advice and that his ideas spark you to take action to be happy!
I really like his idea to start a gratitude journal!
So When Are You Happiest?
If you are like me, it may take you a few moments of reflection to answer the question, “When are you happiest?” So many things can make me happy and really it is so many small things because happiness often comes in waves of enjoyment.
Here are a few examples of my happy moments. Make your own list or use my list to spark your ideas. Io find happiness when:
- my kids come hop into my bed in the morning to snuggle!
- I am reading a book to my kids.
- I am looking into my husband’s eyes and he is looking back at me.
- chowing down on my favorite foods.
- there is a beautiful blue sky and I am outdoors to enjoy it.
- I am laying on the beach.
- I relax in a hot tub.
- sitting down to a family dinner and everyone enjoys it.
- I see my kids having a blast.
- I am sitting on my couch all cozied up with my husband for a good movie.
- someone gives me good feedback on my blog!
- I get to go somewhere new or try something new.
- I hear, “I love you.”
Happiness is a choice, so I hope you make the choice to find happiness in the little things. Go ahead and smile; it feels good!
Related Posts:
Gratitude Journal for Teens With Daily Prompts
Mega cool mama says
Beautiful words to keep in mind, indeed. I have recently gotten back into the habit of focusing on what we have instead of lack, and I definitely have noticed that I am much happier! I hope to pass along this “attitude of gratitude” to my own children as well. 🙂