Where Did The Good Life Go?

[success]The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. ~ Martha Washington[/success]

Last week I was listening to some friends tell me about really, really exciting things happening in their life.  I was happy, I was moved, I was thrilled for them.  They are wonderful people and deserve to have wonderful things happen.

But why?

Why does happiness disappear.

Here we are a week later and am I still hearing of the wonders of their life.  No I’m not.

Today all they can talk about is how rotten fate is, how dreadful things are, how miserable life is.  What happened?  Where did the good life go? What happened to la dolce vita? How did it manage to disappear between last week and this.  Is there some unspeakable void that swallows great experiences so we can no longer see them, just like my washing machine makes socks disappear?

Check the 80/20 rule

This was the puzzlement of the day for me.  It’s taken a while, but I think I get it.  If eighty percent of life works fantastically, we prefer to dwell on the twenty percent that…basically sucks.  It’s as though we’re programmed by some sentient master computer up in the sky to see a life that’s less than real…or is that a movie I’m thinking of?

Well no more, not for me, no sirree.  I’ve come up with a plan to thwart said gigantic sky computer.

There’s a simple little trick

No heavy lifting required.

Encourage yourself.  It’s that simple.  By focusing on our successes, they can’t disappear into the void, they’re going to be in the forefront of our mind and we can continue to enjoy them.

Stop looking for what isn’t working, or what didn’t get done, or what could have been done better and instead acknowledge your successes, big and small, love them all as my Darling One likes to say.

He’s right.  Success breeds success, major or minor, in any area of life be it financial, health, fitness, relationship, service, learning.  I’m even going to count unloading the dishwasher as a success and I’m sure my Darling One will be the first in line to give me a high five for that.

What have we got to lose.  We could all try acknowledging our successes, every day, for one month and see if more success comes our way.  Sounds like a great start to the New Year to me.  Anyone game?  Would love to hear your thoughts.

Encourage each other.

Elle

xoxo