Scott and I recently attended Buffini and Company’s conference called “The Peak Experience” to sharpen our skills and collaborate with top agents around the country. We are so thankful for the synergy and the opportunity to deepen relationships with like-minded hardworking people that genuinely care about their clients and want what is best for them. If you are considering a purchase somewhere outside of the Charlotte metro area, let us know because we probably know an excellent agent where you are headed and would be thrilled to refer you!
Besides hearing words of wisdom from our coach, Brian Buffini, one of my favorite parts was listening to a speech about happiness by Neil Pasricha, the author of “The Book of Awesome.” Neil revealed his own personal challenges that led him on a journey to seek happiness in his life. After his creation, “1000AwesomeThings.com” went viral, he discovered how desperately people around the world needed more happiness in their daily lives. Why is it, he asked, that so many people desire to be happy but don’t end up feeling this way?
He showed us a formula for happiness that many of us have been taught:
Great Work → Big Success → Be Happy
This is the formula I learned as a kid. Do great work and the rest will fall into place. It sounds innocent but it teaches us that happiness is contingent upon doing great work and feeling like a big success. I can’t be happy until I have achieved something big. Can you see the danger in this? Then he challenged us to ask ourselves how the formula is flawed. He believes the formula is really this:
Be happy → Great Work → Big Success
Focusing on being happy first leads us to do great work that we believe in, which drives us to big success. Happiness is only contingent on our ability to recognize that our daily choices determine whether we are happy or not. He gave us several options to help us see that we can train ourselves to be 1% happier every day.
One of his ideas was writing down specific answers to these questions to release negative energy and focus on what is going well in your life:
- I will let go of…
- I am grateful for…
- I will focus on…
Another was what he called “Forest Bathing” based on the Japanese term, shinrin-yoku, for forest therapy. Studies have shown taking a walk in the woods (without your cell phone!) reduces stress and has positive impacts on your physical and emotional health. It is often expressed that we reap the rewards of our labor. Do you see the power in reaping rewards from taking a break to connect with nature a few minutes each day?
Have you found simple ways to increase your happiness each day? We’d love to hear from you! Please send your ideas to maria@thewrealtygroup.com. Wishing you happiness today and every day!