I  was talking with a client who was a bit low on spirits and energy. I asked him a question:

"Tell me all the things that you are doing both personally and professional that make you happy?"

Client: ..........  Silence, long silence ( I was getting worried)  followed by "Not much at all really"

Me in response: "Then you don't deserve to be happy."

A bit harsh perhaps, but true. If you don't do things that lift your spirits and make you happy why on earth would you expect to feel happy?

If you are not very happy it shows. Maybe people around you don't exactly see that you are a miserable bugger, but your dissatisfaction will seep out of your pores and they'll pick it up.

Not brilliant... if you want to be a role model of someone who takes care of themselves, has a clear picture of who they are and what they need to be to be happy.  Yer, whatever the circumstances or vehicle, bottom line is people want to be happy.

Me, I really do want to spend all my time with people who have vitality, energy, joy and take their work but not themselves seriously. Why wouldn't you?

I remain strongly committed to talking about happiness (sometimes in the face of corporate ridicule). Why? Because I believe happiness is our authentic nature, and for that reason happiness brings out the best in us, both individually and collectively.

So my friend the client writes down a list of all the things that make him feel happy and he takes action to make some, if not all, of them alive again. Because it takes effort to be happy as in any other worthwhile venture.  I have my list too and we are having a bit of bloke competitive thing to see who can make the most progress before Xmas.

PS Your list likely has two columns. Happiness Producing & Happiness Draining. It's tough to produce if its going straight down the drain. Eliminating drains is equally as important.

PPS Correct. I always wanted to be Fonzie...