“Success is not the key to happiness; happiness is the key to success”
~ Albert Schweitzer

I started my happiness project in 2007 in response to the many wonderful women that I coach because I am constantly saddened by how many of them tell me that they have forgotten how to be happy.

It is a feeling that I can identify with totally. I have been studying the art of being happy all of my life and I have so much to share with them and you. My own search for happiness took me abroad for ten years where I thought that a new life would make me happier. Did it work? I’ll tell you later!*

When you were growing up, were you ever told about happiness? Did anyone ever take you to one side and explain to you how to be happy?

If I had to explain it, I would guess that when we are young, happiness and joy are able to spring spontaneously from inside, unencumbered by disappointment or fear. So perhaps the need to teach the art of happiness is not obvious to those entrusted with our development.

What happens to our youthful joy, where does it go? The most common reaction to this question is “life does!” As we grow older, we take on responsibilities which weigh us down, guilt if we don’t perform to the standards of others and fear of failure. This squashes our joy into a place where it is hard to access it but it is still there and can bubble out suddenly when we least expect it –suddenly there, peeking out like the sun behind a cloud.

However for many people, happiness is an illusion, a dream that is played out in movies, magazines and novels. It estranges them from the world and from others. They are cut off from their happiness and this can manifest itself in many ways. Some become bitter and disillusioned, others feel great loneliness and longing, many feel disconnected from relationships, friends and family and all the time, advertising is flooding our lives with the “buy this and your life will be perfect” message. Do you feel like this?

Well, here’s the good news!

You can be happy as soon as you choose to be happy!

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TERESA’S TEN SIMPLE HAPPINESS COMMANDMENTS

Be Me
Act as I would like to feel.
Practice Compassion
Think Things Through
Don’t Rush To Judge
Identify The Problem
Take care of Business (thanks to Elvis for this one!)
Express Gratitude
Enjoy Today

This list took me about a year to complete and I am still wondering whether to add the following:

Take chances
No excuses
Focus
Don't sweat the small stuff
Keep trying
Steadily, persistently, passionately

What do you think?

If you think that any of these would work for you, or you have others to add to the list, then please sign up for The Happiness Project Newsletter by clicking here.

Together we will make it a great 2008!