I was introduced to ‘Dr Happy’ (aka Dr
Tim Sharp) through a mutual friend. I’d previously heard of Tim’s work and the
great things he’s achieving with his Happiness Institute and so was keen to
hear his thoughts on happiness and the enemies to happiness.
And you can check out Tim's books here:Tim is at the forefront of the exciting new science of Positive Psychology, and is one of Australia’s leaders in the fields of psychological well-being and happiness. He is a best selling author, highly sought after corporate speaker and appears frequently in the media. With a background in Clinical Psychology and a focus on Positive Psychology, he is immensely qualified to provide guidance and advice on getting the most out of life. I asked Dr Happy to share his prescription for happiness. “I believe happiness is something you choose. Choose is a word I’ve specifically selected as it both reflects my strong belief in personal choice and responsibility and further, it represents what I believe to be the 6 key strategies required for living a really happy life.” Dr Happy’s Prescription for Happiness: CHOOSE C = Clarity (of goals, direction and life purpose) Happy people set clear goals and determine clear and specific plans to ensure these goals become reality. So at The Happiness Institute we strongly encourage those we’re coaching to clarify their life plans – because no one else will do it for you! H = Healthy Living (activity & exercise, diet & nutrition, sleep) Health forms a crucial part of the foundation to happiness. It’s hard to be happy if you’re literally sick and tired all the time. So we strongly recommend those wanting to experience real happiness to do whatever they can to be healthy as this will also boost their chances of being happy. O = Optimism (positive but realistic thinking) There’s no doubt that happy people think about themselves, others and the world in a fundamentally different way. Among other things, they actively dispute negative thoughts and purposefully search for positives in as many situations as possible. The good news is that this is something people can learn to do. A large component of happiness coaching involves teaching people to think optimistically and notably, to practice the requisite skills as often as possible. O = Others (the key relationships in your life) Research strongly indicates that happy people have both more and better quality relationships. Happiness is not a solo or selfish endeavor as many mistakenly think. Rather, it’s a ‘team game’ in which happiness is derived from doing good deeds to others. Our philosophy is, therefore, to care for yourself but not neglect or ignore the needs of others. With this in mind we regularly encourage clients to make sure they devote time to developing and fostering key relationships. S = Strengths (your core qualities and attributes) Rather than spending all their time trying to ‘fix’ their ‘weaknesses’, happy people spend more time identifying and utilizing their strengths. This is a fundamentally different approach and one that significantly increases the chances of experiencing real and meaningful positive emotions (such as happiness). Working with one’s strengths also enhances a positive state known as ‘flow’ which is increasingly being considered to be a crucial component of happiness. So what we often say to our clients is “find out what you’re good at and do it as much as possible!” E = Enjoy the moment (live in, and appreciate the present) The past is history, tomorrow’s a mystery, and
today’s a gift – that’s why they call it ‘the
present’. Live in the moment and enjoy life more. Spend more time focusing
on (and appreciating) what you have rather than worrying about what you don’t
have. Be grateful for all the good things in life and spend less time thinking
about the bad. These are key strategies and attitudes for happiness and
recommendations that make up a large part of what we recommend at The Happiness
Institute. I also asked Tim about the key enemies to happiness – what strategies, values, beliefs or behaviors destroy or limit happiness and joy in life? “The enemies to happiness are, I believe, the antitheses to the variables described above. The most common reasons many people do not experience happiness are:
So listen to Dr Happy and CHOOSE happiness. It’s a prescription for more meaning and joy in life. You can find out more about Dr Happy’s work, ideas and coaching at www.drhappy.com.au |
Notes from the Field >