What Works: Finding your happy
Sunday I spent the day at the Reno Earth Day Festival with some friends. It was really nice to sit down on the grass, bask in the sun, and slow down for a while.
I had brought a few toys with me, four bubble guns and a hula hoop. While we were playing with the bubbles, I took a moment to observe the crowd around me — everyone “finding their happy” in their own way.
Some brought hula hoops of their own and were busy showing off their skills (or lack thereof) without fear of how they looked at all. Others took advantage of the bubbles we were blowing. One older gentleman asked if we would blow the bubbles his way so he could pop them.
The wind proved a challenge in that one, but we managed to send some his way. Another man was just standing, smile on his face, happily watching the band. I learned later he was from Michigan and had recently decided to relocate to the area.
He was in his late 50s and recently retired, living in the moment, one day at a time. There were pets galore. Pet owners socialized with each other and it was at that moment I had one of those strange a-ha moments. We need to be more like dogs.
Think about this and hear me out for a minute. Dogs live life “in the moment.” They find their happy, whether it be a ball, a stick, or just sitting by their owners’ side and letting the wind rush through their ears. They are social animals, unafraid to approach dogs they have never met before and make friends. Of course, we don’t make friends the way they do — but a smile and a handshake can go a long way.
Everyone at that park, including the dogs, were finding their happy. Maybe it was the festival environment or that hippie love vibe — but there were few I saw that were not living in the moment in some way. This was so inspiring.
Imagine how interesting life would be if you let go, at least once a day, and “found your happy.” I felt light as a feather leaving the park yesterday — having taken my worries, put them in little bubbles, and watched as kids, older gentlemen, couples, and people from all walks of life popped them.
By now you may be saying, OK hippie girl, what does being a dog, living in the moment, and finding your happy have to do with business? Here’s what.
I have a colleague who snowmobiles. She finds her happy racing across snow and then returns to her graphic design business, Highmark Designs, recharged and more creative than ever.
I have a friend who finds play in her work. She and her husband have built a wonderful business, Caterpillar Hookah Lounge, where people can come and play too. These two business owners find their happy and use the present moment to create monetary success for themselves. They not only live full lives as individuals, they are successful entrepreneurs as well because they found a way to let their fun fuel their fortune.
How will you let your fun fuel your fortune? Will you network like a friendly dog and indiscriminately strike up conversations at your next networking event? Will you take the stress of the day, blow some bubbles, and watch that heavy stress float way so you can focus on the matter at hand? How will you find your happy? The floor is yours, Carson City.
ABOUT DIANE HANSEN
Diane Hansen is the Chief Inspiration Officer of What Works Coaching, a coaching firm that has helped people worldwide with their businesses, careers, mindsets, and profit margins. She brings to Carson City more than 17 years of experience with a wide array of clients, ranging from top corporations, motivated entrepreneurs and individuals hungry for a fresh start. Her column appears every Monday on Carson Now.
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