I Choose to be happy

In case you didn't know, today is the #InternationalDayOfHappiness!  Here is my story on how I made the decision to choose to be happy.

A few years ago I went through a big "Happiness" phase reading as many books as possible on the subject including Dalai Lama's The Art of Happiness, Dan Harris' 10% Happier and Gretchen Rubin's books The Happiness Project and Happier at Home.  I spent a lot of time focusing on what I could do in my life to be happier.  I began meditating, found more joy through running, focused on little traditions with my family and many other small things.  And in general all of those little things worked, I became much happier.  At home, in my personal life.

However, I ignored a large part of my life.  My career.  I think in large part I was conditioned that I couldn't have it all.  I had a job that gave me freedom, gave me flexibility and I was doing something that I was good at.  However, it didn't leave me feeling fulfilled.  And during stressful times in my job I couldn't sleep, laying awake for hours stressed out and worried.  I stopped meditating, because I became too afraid to tap further into that unrest and unease, I was scared of my own thoughts.  I would feel sorry for myself and then I would feel guilty for feeling sorry because I didn't have it so bad and who was I to think that I deserved it all.  It was a vicious cycle.

Then things changed.  My grandfather passed away, someone who strived for it all, someone who in his 80s searched high and low for a company that would let him skydive and when he couldn't find it he "settled" for paragliding!  As clichéd as it sounds, his death woke me up.  Well technically I was already awake, one of the many sleepless nights worrying and stressing now with an added layer of grieving.  Why was I staying with something that didn't leave me feeling fulfilled?  I wanted to help people but wanted to continue to work from home and for myself.  So I made a choice.  I chose to make it happen.  I chose to try and work my hardest to have it all.  

From that day on I put in the work.  I found Classy Career Girl's podcast and did my own introspection on my interests, motivations and skills. Realized that this is what I had wanted to do all along.  I began conducting informational interviews with other career coaches, finding mentors, learning about starting a business, designing my own webiste and am still learning so much every day.  And I am still recruiting, as I have a client I love, meaning I am working longer and smarter each day to make it all happen (2019 update: no longer recruiting!!).  At night though, I meditate (I'm not scared of my thoughts anymore), and go to sleep feeling satisfied and fulfilled.  Because I made my choice and make that same choice everyday.  I choose to be happy.

If you are feeling unhappy in your current job, you can make a choice to change!  Don't know where to start?

How about a free 5 day challenge with 5 training videos, a supportive Facebook group and everything you need to Find Your Way to Career Happiness.  

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