Happiness at Work

We can learn how to create joy in our work no matter what else may be going on around us. Moreover, negative things, which happen to you, are not responsible for your state of unhappiness; in fact, it is how you see them.

Whenever anyone does something that causes you to react with anger or distaste, take a deep breath and pause. Think about whether there is any possibility that what set you off was actually a well-meaning act or an honest mistake.

Observe yourself as you go through a typical day. Stuff happens to you. As it does, you immediately judge it and label it, dozens of times, so often that you no longer recognize that you are doing it. It is a deep-seated habit.

Each time you use the bad thing label, no matter how fleetingly, you are adding a tiny bit of stress to your life. You may think that it is trivial. You may even claim that it has no effect on you. You are wrong.

Observe yourself closely. Notice how you immediately judge what happens to you and label it a bad thing or a good thing. Focus on the bad things. See the many ways in which they are not so bad and perhaps even good.

Even if you cannot see how something can possibly be good, refrain from labeling it "bad." If you break your leg, do not label it a bad thing. If you have to stick a label on it, use "I broke my leg."

Drop the past. It is hard, but with practice, you will get the hang of it.

Recognize that you can wallow in negative feelings, or you can simply let them go, of course, you can let them go.

Think about how you use memory all the time. You experience something as good or bad by comparing it with some event you have stored in your memory, something you are attached to.

Think about your life, every aspect of it. How much of what you do, experience, and think, is surrounded by memories? This will give you some idea of how constrained you really are.

Try to experience events without the burden of expectations dredged from your memories; then each moment will be liberating and exhilarating.

Understand that you are always playing a role in your life; you are the hero not the role.

There is only one reason for getting angry, and that is because you have anger inside you. True, any of a number of events can trigger it, but the only reason you get angry is that you always lug around a load of anger.

When you begin using affirmations with radiant hope and the results you expect do not transpire, you might get depressed. It is possible to slip into dejection or even depression. That is why affirmations can actually be harmful for you.

Go back to any affirmation you have tried that did not work. See if you can honestly believe that affirmation. If you cannot, change it to one that seems within the realm of possibility.

What most people do not realize is that passion does not exist in the job; it exists in you! You cannot find it outside; you have to discover it inside, and if you cannot, ignite it in yourself right where you are now.