THE HAPPINESS
NO HORSE GETS ANYWHERE UNTIL HE IS HARNESSED.
NO STREAM OR GAS DRIVES ANYTHIN UNTIL IT IS CONFINED.
NO NIAGARA IS EVER TURNED INTO LIGHT AND POWER UNTIL IT IS
TUNNELED. NO LIFE EVER GROWS GREAT UNTIL IT IS FOCUSED,
DEDICATED, DISCIPLINED".
--- HARRY EMERSON FOSDICK
YOUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE YOUR OWN HAPPINESS IS THE TRUE MEASURE OF YOUR SUCCESS IN LIFE, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT. NOTHING CAN REPLACE IT. IF YOU ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING OF A MATERIAL NATURE, BUT YOU ARE NOT HAPPY, YOU HAVE ACTUALLY FAILED AT FULLFILLING YOUR POTENTIAL AS A HUMAN BEING.
I DESCRIBE HOW HUMAN BEINGS ARE PURPOSEFUL,STRIVING TOWARD ACHIEVING GOALS AND END RESULTS. HOWEVER, BEHIND EACH GOAL LIES ANOTHER GOAL, AND THEN STILL ANOTHER GOAL, UNTIL YOU FINALLY ARRIVE AT THE "PRIMUM MOVUM" OR FIRST - MOVING FORCE, IN HUMAN LIFE. THIS ALWAYS TURNS OUT TO BE THE DESIRE TO BE HAPPY. YOU CAN ONLY TRULY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU PRACTICE SELF-DISCIPLINE, SELF - MASTERY, AND SELF-CONTROL, IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE THAT YOU ARE TRULY CONTENT.
ACTION EXERCISE
1. IDENTIFY THE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE IN WHICH YOU FEEL THE HAPPIEST AND THE MOST IN CONTROL. HOW COULD YOU EXPAND THEM?
2. IDENTIFY THE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE IN WHICH YOU FEEL CONTROLLED BY OTHER PEOPLE OR FACTORS. WHAT COULD YOU DO TO RESOLVED THESE SITUATIONS?
3. IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS IN YOUR LIFE IN WHICH THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN YOUR CURRENT LEVELS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WHAT YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ACHIEVE . WHAT COULD YOU DO TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS?
4. IDENTIFY THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS YOU HAVE TODAY THAT ARE NOT BEING FULLFILLED. HOW COULD YOU BEGIN TO SATISFY THESE DEFICIENCY NEEDS?
5. IDENTIFY THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT GIVE YOU THE GREATEST FEELING OF PERSONAL HAPPINESS, YOUR "PEAK EXPERIENCE" IN LIFE. WHAT COULD YOU DO TO INCREASE THESE MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS?
6. IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS IN LIFE IN WHICH YOU FEEL THE MOST DISCONTENTED. WHAT STEPS COULD YOU TAKED IMMEDIATELY TO RESOLVE THESE FEELINGS OF DISONTENT?
7. DEFINE "HAPPINESS" FOR YOURSELF. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR YOU TO FEEL TRULY HAPPY? WHAT COULD YOU DO IMMEDIATELY TO CREATE THIS SITUATION?
