Pam
Gilberd for SuccessTelevision.com
“Happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly possessions.
It’s a mental attitude. It comes from appreciating what we have,
instead of what we don’t have. It’s so simple- yet so hard for the
human mind to comprehend.” Anonymous
“Happiness ” as a part of the definition of
success and as a way of being, has become a major topic in
finding happiness
For example, meet Janet Rickard who has found happiness. Janet works as the Enrollment Manager for the University of Phoenix Campus in Kansas City. She says, “Throughout my entire life it has been my attitude that has allowed me to have the success that I enjoy today.” Janet earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She taught elementary school for seven years. Janet says, “It is exciting to return to the field of education in the adult arena.” She adds, “Each day I have the opportunity to help working adults achieve the dream of earning their degree. Only 27% of Americans have their bachelor’s degree. We now live in a society where it is no longer optional to have a degree or not.”
Janet finds fulfillment in her work because it helps others. She says, “Doing what you love is so vital to joyful living . People who love what they do take immense pleasure in the work experience. Therefore, achievement comes naturally and they feel refreshed and exhilarated at the end of the day. I do the work that I was born to do.”
According to analytic social psychologist Adrian White’s research at the University of Leicester, England, happiness is most closely associated with health, wealth, and education. She found the U.S. has dropped to number twenty-three in the number of people who consider themselves “very happy.” Previously the U.S. had been among the happiest citizens in the developed world. Nowadays, more people in the U.S. suffer from depression, alcoholism and suicide. The top ten happiest countries according to White’s research are: Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland, The Bahamas, Finland, Sweden, Bhutan, Brunei, and Canada.
Wildly successful people broaden their reasons for feeling happy from health, wealth and availability of education to include:
- Having great relationships
- Keeping a positive mental attitude
- Staying Mindful
- Feeling Alive by finding new challenges
- Studying the “Art” of happiness
- Matching work with passion
