What's Keeping You From Truly Being Happy?

You’ve heard it said over and over again. Money can’t buy happiness. But, how do you get it? Why are so many people nowadays frustrated by their jobs, dissatisfied with their relationships, and just plain bored with their lives?

Allow me to answer this profound question with a rather simple story.

One morning after dropping my son off at preschool, I was performing the usual cart push through the vast grocery store parking lot ... when I noticed something. My thighs were rubbing together in that all-too-typical fashion. Swish. Swish. Swish. Swish. But, this time something was different. This time, that sound ... it made me smile. That’s right. It made me smile.

Don’t get me wrong, I hate my thighs as much as the next girl. So, what made me proud of my swish? For the past 3 months, I had been a diet-exercise superstar. Protein shakes for breakfast, kettlebell swings mid-morning, and kale with every other meal. And let’s not forget the daily meditation. I was on the ball, I was unstoppable, I was ... dare I say it ... HAPPY!

It was in that moment when everything changed for me. I realized that all these years of being embarrassed by my thunder thighs, being ashamed of my height (or lack thereof), being so worried about my hair and my makeup ... It had nothing to do with my appearance and everything to do with the amount of effort I was (or I should say ... was not) putting into taking care of myself.

That’s right—it wasn’t the results that really bothered me—it was how much I put into getting them. I’m talking about my potential. When I performed sub-par, I felt sub-par. When I surpassed every expectation I had for myself, I felt amazing—even though little changed on the outside. My thighs still rubbed, the bags under my eyes could hold golf balls, and the reflection from my high forehead could blind someone. But that was ok. Because that was me ... and I was doing the best that I could.

In that moment I realized the biggest thing keeping me from my own happiness was me. It was how I was acting. The choices I was making, plus how I was spending my time was in direct relation to how I felt. It didn’t matter whether or not the results I saw changed. It only mattered whether or not I was doing the best that I could do.

There have been many times since that moment when I’ve felt down and depressed. Almost every time I could relate the feelings towards not doing what I knew I was capable of. Avoiding, slacking, whatever you want to call it, it always equated to sadness.

I now know when those feelings come on, to ask myself, "What more could I do?". And I push myself to get off the couch and do it. Maybe it's another workout. Maybe it's a new speaking event for my business. Maybe it's a trip to the park with my son. But, it never fails. It always shifts me into a better mood.

If you find yourself procrastinating in taking the steps necessary to get the life that you want, reach out to me for a complimentary ass-kicking session to get you moving.