Happiness Information

Dont Let Life Happen to You


Don't Let Life Happen To You

It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. - Marcus Aurelius (121-80 AD, Roman Emperor, Philosopher)

It's hard to believe that we are nearing the end of another year. As I write this, snow is falling in Colorado, the makings of a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner are in the kitchen, and our newspapers are filled with holiday ads. The end of the year always tends to be a time of reflection as we look back on the accomplishments of the past year and look forward to a new year. It's also a time to reflect on our lives and ensure that we are living the life we want.

It's easy to look at ones life and be content with where you are. You have a good job, a spouse or significant other, children, a nice car, and all of the trappings of success. Clearly you are well on your way to success. But the real question is, are you happy with what you are doing?

No, this is not an article about the spiritual side of your life. Normally these articles focus all of the attention on management and leadership concepts that you can use to shape your career, improve your performance, and move up the ladder of success. But as we enter a new year it is important to take a step back and make sure that the path you are on is the right path for you.

You see life has a way of just happening to people. Your first job tends to be the job that you were first offered, in an industry that may or may not really interest you, doing what you may or may not have a real talent in. Your career then tends to grow from there. You get promoted or change companies, but tend to stay with what you are familiar with and what you have done in the past. Months turn into years and at some point in time you find that you are on a career path that you never really intended to be on at all. It may be a great, wonderful career path doing all of the things that are important to you, or it may be a path where you have had some successes, but don't find inspiring.

In short, your life has been on autopilot. That is when you know that life has happened to you.

You didn't plan to be where you are. And while you are not unhappy with where you are, you are not happy with it either. It does not speak to your inner being.

The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose. - Richard Leider

As you sit down in the coming weeks to plan your new years resolutions, take a few extra minutes to think about where you are in your life and where you are in your career. If you have not made a life plan in the past, start one now. Identify your core values. Identify what is important to you in life and in your career. Figure out were you want to be in 10 years and make sure your current path will take you there.

Your life is a fairy tale, with the journey unscripted. Take control of your life and write your own script. Understand your desires and passions and build a plan for your life that will be a source of happiness and pride. It may be in management and leadership. It may be in the arts. But whatever it is, make sure that you control your life and that your life does not just happen to you.

David Meyer, owner of Coaching for Tomorrow, has more than 25 years of management and leadership experience, having worked for companies such as Nobil Shoes, McDonough, Allied Stores, MCI and Nextel Communications. His mantra, "You Win With People" is based on the deep-seated belief that hiring, developing, and promoting the right people can lead to organizational and financial success. As a management and leadership coach, David works to instill that same passion in his clients by helping them understand the importance of strong leadership, strong teamwork, and strong players.

David has a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Elmhurst College and has been certified by both ACTION International as a Business Coach and the Coach Training Alliance. He also has received his CTM from Toastmasters. He is an Officer in the Denver Coach Federation and a facilitator/trainer for the Coach Training Alliance and ACTION International of Colorado.

Married with two adult daughters, David is active in his local Kiwanis club and Crossroads Community Church. He enjoys reading, golf, scuba diving, and Civil War reenacting.

www.coachingfortomorrow.com


MORE RESOURCES:

TopNews

Study: Happiness linked to better health
United Press International - 16 hours ago
to assess happiness. They determined satisfaction with life by asking: "All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life? ...
Happier really does mean healthier, researchers say CTV.ca
Study: Happy People Tend To Be Healthier AHN
all 19 news articles


BBC News

Does Powys really hold the recipe for happiness?
WalesOnline, United Kingdom - Aug 28, 2008
Cliff Arnall, a happiness psychologist living in Brecon, agreed that Powys benefits from a low crime rate and a “safe and stunning natural environment”, ...
Rainy Manchester may need defending, but it scores highly in ... Times Online
Happiness Map Declares Powys The Winner Find a Property
Welsh county top of happiness map CBBC Newsround
Reuters UK - Community News Group
all 31 news articles


Balanced Life: Happiness Project: Look Out the Window
Huffington Post, NY - Aug 29, 2008
I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you should have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. ...
Huge water plant takes shape under New York City Austin American-Statesman
all 2 news articles


Happiness map is just a joke to us
WalesOnline, United Kingdom - Aug 29, 2008
According to a so-called happiness map released yesterday, the South Wales Valleys are among some of the unhappiest places to live in the UK. ...


Happy Hour: Bitter happiness
National Post, Canada - 17 hours ago
Sure, you think you know what bitterness tastes like. But are you really experiencing it the same way as the person across the table from you? ...


Why our happiness is taking a dive
The Canberra Times, Australia - Aug 27, 2008
BY MICHAEL RUFFLES For the first time in seven years men are feeling better than women, but overall happiness is taking a dive as inflation hits the hip ...
Inflation deflating women: report ABC Online
Women aren't as upbeat as men Sydney Morning Herald
Rising prices to blame for misery Adelaidenow
The Age
all 163 news articles


Radio Australia

Can Barack Obama purge America's original sin?
Times Online, UK - 17 hours ago
America was founded on a promise: religious toleration, democratic self-government, human equality, happiness. And in his pitch-perfect peroration at the ...
Video: Obama's White House vision - 29 Aug 08 AlJazeeraEnglish
Eugene Robinson: A moment for tears, happiness Memphis Commercial Appeal
African-American's nomination sends world a powerful message The Patriot-News - PennLive.com
all 639 news articles


Polly's People: Heartbreak gives way to happiness for entrepreneur
Savannah Morning News, GA - 8 hours ago
At the time, Jan was overdue for a bit of happiness. As a widow with four children, she needed to give her brood a semblance of normalcy and working helped. ...


O! That sweet bringer of happiness
Daily News & Analysis, India - 15 hours ago
In Sanskrit, the word ‘modak’ means ‘that which gives or brings happiness’, and the steamed dumpling-like sweet has the power to melt the hardest of hearts. ...
The ubiquitous modak goes lite Daily News & Analysis
all 2 news articles


TopNews

Happiness may protect against cancer
The Australian, Australia - Aug 25, 2008
After questioning more than 600 women – include 255 breast cancer patients – about life experiences, happiness and depression, researchers found optimists ...
Happiness 'can cut breast cancer risk by a quarter' Hindu Business Line
Happiness may protect against breast cancer, study suggests Telegraph.co.uk
Research: Severe life events raise breast cancer risk Xinhua
Jerusalem Post - Irish Health
all 163 news articles

Happiness - Google News

home | site map
© 2006