Take Action

"To live for results would be to sentence myself to continuous frustration. My only sure reward is in my actions and not from them."

- Hugh Prather

"Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."

- Helen Keller

"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator."

- W. Beran Wolfe

"Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action."

- Benjamin Disraeli

When I was looking for quotes for this post I found a dozen that fit, I had a hard time choosing. These are my four favorites.

Happiness research has shown that action is one of the main indicators of happiness, as well as one of the major ways to move from being unhappy to being happy. Research has found that happy people are busy people, but not just bustling busy. The activity needs to be quality activities. Happy people are involved in their life. They invest their energy in living.

The research has identified 5 types of activities that are likely to increase happiness:

1. Enjoyable activities - Doing things that you enjoy will make you happy - who knew?
2. Exciting activities - activities that are thrill based like sports, rock concerts and amusement parks
3. Novel Activities - doing new things will make you happier. Happy people are more likely to try new things.
4. Social activities - Happy people have an active social calendar
5. Meaningful activities - Happy people involve themselves in meaningful activity.

I have spent the last three weeks working to put in a system. With the long hours, I have not had time for any of the above. I pre-wrote all of the previous happiness posts over Christmas and scheduled the posts. Ironically the post "Embrace Failure" was posted on the weekend we did the implementation. After working 11 days straight, I was exhausted. I had no energy for action, but after reading the research, I realize I have to take action or risk being unhappy. Tomorrow I am back to work and will be back to my noon hour yoga. Three of the members of my new project team also do yoga, so hopefully we will keep each other motivated. I also get to organize a celebration for the successful system implementation and completion of my last project - something that should increase my happiness.

Be active to be happy and seek your

Bright Star Dreams

P.S. here is another link to some happiness research that I have found: http://www.gethappy.net/v204.htm