Former GPS speaker Dr. Christine Carter shares a Happiness Tip and reminds us to
"Find Something to Love About the
Moment You Are In Right Now"
When I drop my kids off at school in the morning, I ask
them one question: "What are you going to
do today?" They always answer, usually without rolling their
eyes and sometimes with actual enthusiasm: "HAVE FUN!!"
Having fun, to me, is the most important thing. Yes, I
want them to learn and be respectful and kind and everything else, and no, I
don't want them to have fun at the expense of other people or by breaking school
rules -- obviously. But when it comes down to it, I know that if they are having
fun, they will learn better, and make better friends, and in general, be a
delight to their teachers.
And there is always fun to be had, even in the
more boring or trying aspects of school, or, as the case may be, work. Or life.
Finding something to love in every situation isn't about complacency, it's about
accepting the full truth of the present moment. It's about focusing our minds on
the positive aspects of a situation, and then reaping the benefits of doing
so.
A friend recently faced a nerve-wracking medical procedure
for a serious illness. She was terrified, and having a hard time finding
something to love about the situation, which included the possibility that she
might not recover. But here are some things we came up with:
She felt love and gratitude for the people supporting her --
her doctors and nurses, her husband, her friends.She felt hope and gratitude
because there are treatments for her illness (and super thankful she has health
insurance).She felt deep gratitude (again) just to be alive. She came to see her
fear as a part of her profound will to live.Finding something to love even in
very difficult situations involves acceptance of (and even surrender to) things
that we didn't choose and perhaps didn't want. But instead of just pointing to
the ways that a situation is hard or wrong or bad, or focusing on the things
that we'd like to change, we can transform a situation by also
acknowledging the positive aspects of a situation. The key: seeing that
we would not get to experience these positive aspects, at least in the same way,
without the difficult bits.
Seeing this fuller picture -- accepting both the good and the
bad in a situation -- is a solid tactic for feeling happier and more more
fulfilled. The positive emotions that arise when we identify what we love are
tremendously functional. Gratitude, love, hope, optimism, compassion, awe --
these emotions all make us healthier, happier, and more satisfied with our
lives.
Take action: Have fun today. If not that, find
something to love about the situation you are in.