Meaningful Life

1. Happy people want the benefits of a life of happiness and commit to it with everything they’ve got.

• I subsribe to this. However I have difficulty giving it all I've got, because I'm afraid of the failure that could happen if I do so. Because failure at something I give my all to means "I'm not as smart as I thought I was, I'm not who I think I am.". I have to realize failure isn't failure, it's just learning about myself and the way I work. And that will bring me success, or meaning, rather.

1. Happy people prioritize people. They interact, love and express appreciation. An attitude of gratitude for loved ones is key.

• I subscribe to this. I believe I am very good at this. I would nonetheless like to show more gratitude to friends for their love, without being too obsequious.

1. Happy people use their 5 senses and notice all that is lovely and good in front of their noses.

-I subscribe to this. I do it to my utmost, more midnful meditation would help me in this regard.

1. Happy people have a purpose in their life that they are working towards.

-I subscribe to this. I would like to better define that purpose, and not be so afraid of it.

1. Happy people know their skillset and throw themselves into projects or causes that make a difference. This makes the individual feel competent, successful and that their gifts are well placed.

• I subscribe to this. I would like to feel more confident in my skillset and be confident that throwing myself into something has value to that something. That I'm worth something. I'm not very confident in my skillset.

1. Happy people are kind even when others are not so they can reap the benefit of the good feeling that brings.

• I subscribe to this. Be kind to everyone, your enemies included. If they were fulfilled, or happy, they would not be my enemies. Being kind to them will lessen their enemy-dom.

1. Happy people remember that more of our feelings of goodness and joy come from how we feel than how others feel about us. They take things less personally and have more perspective or can access it when needed.

-I subscribe to this. But I do have difficulty realizing that how others feel about me is not of more importance. If I feel good and joyful, others will perceive me differently in any case.

1. Happy people remember that the only one you can change is yourself.

• I subscribe to this. It is difficult to remember that you can't always change the world. First hand I have seen that changing myself changes teh world around me. Be the change you want to see in the world.

1. Happy people blame and judge less and instead choose curiosity and understanding. They know that their strong reaction to another might be a window into themselves or an opportunity to learn about a different vantage point entirely.

• I subscribe to this. But have great difficulty letting go.

1. Happy people make happiness the goal and remind themselves of the desire for change towards happiness when little stuff like traffic or paperwork or people get on our last nerve.

• I subscribe to this. And am pretty decent at it. The last nerve is a hard one, but I'm getting there.

What is 1 thing that would make you happier right now?

• Being able to get over my fear of failure, and my fear of success! Just let me DO without needing to self sabotage so often.

What are you willing to do to establish Happiness Habits right now?

• Leave the country and focus on exactly this. With the intent of getting over those fears, that is the number one goal. It is the above mentioned fears that are holding me back.

Where I am delaying happiness or tying it to some future event?

• This is something we all do, and even though I've improved greatly I feel that I am tying my happiness to some unnamed future event that will just "change" things for me. Something external to me. Winning the lottery, or whatever. I want to be able to get over that and realize that it all lies within me.

What would bring me happiness and meaning in life: Create a anti-hacker company, help protect people. I just don't feel up to it, like I'm not capable enough. Tech is a propaganda medium, take it back for the people!

Sol's notes:

Instead of asking what we want from life, ask what life wants from us.

Dissonance from the present moment is a major cause of unhappiness.

Where I am delaying happiness or tying to some future event?

Only three choices: Enjoyment, Excitement, or acceptance. No "suffer through it", it's jsut failure to accept or reframe.

What would bring me happiness and meaning: Create a anti-hacker company, help protect people.

Realize that the pursuit of pleasure alone has no lasting hapiness or value.

A state of balance is the key