Stop Restricting Your Happiness
Today’s reblog is Sally Cronin’s wonderful article on ways to find our happiness without hampering our own desires.
Something to think about! – Stop putting restrictions on your Happiness
I have been a nutritional and life coach for the last 19 years. Having given myself a severe kick up the backside at age 43 to make the necessary changes in my own life.
I had mindlessly eaten for most of my adult life, and either starved myself or binged, depending on whims rather than well thought out decisions. It was only when I was studying nutrition, that the light went on, that the food on my plate had more purpose, beneficial qualities, and determination to thrive than I did.
That is just one example of how we can drift through life.
Great at some things, particularly those we enjoy, good at other skills that we have learned along the way and applied to keep us fed, watered and under a roof. But perhaps a bit slapdash when it comes to things that we neither enjoy or feel apply to us, even when they might be essential to our health and survival, such as deciding what food to eat.
The reality is that when we refer to happiness we tend to put the word ‘when’ in front of it.
When I have 10,000 in the bank I will be happy!
When I have lost a stone I will be happy!
When I meet the perfect man I will be happy!
When I have a bestselling novel!
Trouble is that we often find that when we reach what we consider to be that ‘happy’ moment it is not quite as fulfilling as we expected.
Which brings me onto expectations. We are encouraged today to think big. Naturally our parents will usually have some plan in place for what they perceive is the right path in life, and their expectations are usually the first that we will succeed or fail to meet or surpass.
This develops a tendency in us to expect certain events and experiences to happen in our lives with quite rigid targets attached.
Great job by 21
Married by 25
Children by 30
Retired by 40
Living in paradise by 50!
Apart from those types of targets slipping past very quickly, because our eyes are on the big and triumphant completion dates, we sometimes fail to recognise and celebrate smaller but just as significant milestones along the way.
Don’t get me wrong, having goals and dreams and the commitment to make them happen is terrific. But you have to insert the smaller steps within your life plan and acknowledge their importance on getting to where you want to be. Continue reading . . .
DGKayewriter.com 
I’ve disconnected from the idea of ‘happy’ the last decade. I no longer need it, which isn’t like being ‘unhappy’. If I don’t pick ‘happy’, I’m not ‘unhappy’. I now choose satisfied, content. And that makes me happy.
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I think many of us would settle for satisfied and content Jacqui. 🙂
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I agree Jacqui.. that leaves plenty of room to be ‘delighted’ when our expectations are exceeded.. x
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Thank you for sharing Debby… it is such a relief when you realise that being pleased and content with what you have is just fine… no need for euphoria every five minutes. xx♥
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Welcome Sal. And I hear you. I mean, who could take so much excitement? LOL ❤
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Well once in a while…perhaps ♥
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❤ ❤
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Great reblog, Deb. A daily exercise of being grateful for all that we’ve been given and have achieved can move us into feeling happy and at peace. Terrific article, Sally. Thanks to both of you for posting this ♥♥
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And thanks for your taking the time to pop by and read T. So nice to have you back in blogland with us. ! ❤ xo
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Welcome, Deb. I’m so happy to be back! ❤
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❤ ❤
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Thank you Tina and one of the greatest gratitudes is for fantastic friends.. ♥♥
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Welcome, Sally. And indeed it is ❤
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Great post by Sally. “If only” has long been banished from my happiness scale!
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I think many of us have learned to let go of that John. 🙂
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Thank you John..
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There are various definitions of happiness…choose according to your mood and style! That is my way of looking at it albeit I have done many posts on the topic. 🙂
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Yes, you’re articles are always inspirational. Thanks B.<3
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I’ve been participating in a business mentoring group the past six months and have learned so much, but one thing that really stuck with me is to stop planning so much and to take more action. That applies to all areas of life. We need to make things happen instead of trying to plan them into oblivion.
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That’s fabulous advice Jeri. It also involves living in the moment. Sure, we can make plans, but we must return to the now until the ‘then’ comes to fruition. 🙂 ❤
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Great advice and outlook. Happiness can be right there. It’s all in how we see it.
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Absolutely Jennie. 🙂 x
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This is so true! I try to stay in the moment and enjoy the little things in life otherwise I would be waiting 4ever for my ship to come in. 😀 Nice share, Debby!
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Thanks Lis. I’ve learned a long time ago to start living in the now. So many are focused on the destination and missing a beautiful journey. 🙂 x
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Oh my gosh… I almost missed this inspiring post by Sally! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
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Oh, so glad you caught it here Natalie. I just love everything Sally writes about. 🙂 xx
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GREAT one to reblog, Deb. For anybody who needs some help with diet and nutrition, Sally is the expert. She’ll keep the focus on health and happiness, and away from weight obsessions.. /#recommended.
NOW, I’m off to read the rest. Thanks to you both.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!
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Thank you my beautiful friend. Sally is full of wisdom! ❤ xx
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Yes – I love the way her mind works. (Yours too, btw)
xx,
mgh
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Make that a triple with you! 🙂 xo
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❤ {{hugs}}
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OK I would have missed this post from Sally if you hadn’t reblogged it, Debby so THANK YOU! I had so many takeaways from it! I think many people live in the future when it comes to thinking about happiness but if we live in the present WOW we can fully appreciate life and have so many happy moments (we just need to be easier on ourselves, right?!). 🙂 ❤
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So true Christy. So many people live for their tomorrow, missing the journey to the destination. I’m so glad you didn’t miss this post. 🙂 ❤
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