The Happiness Spiral
Have you ever found yourself feeling happy for absolutely no discernible reason?
Maybe you woke up and there was an extra spring in your step and life seemed almost too good to be true.
What did you do?
Did you get all suspicious and wonder why you were feeling all happy? Did you try and analyze it and then wonder why it slipped away?
Have you ever found yourself feeling crappy for absolutely no discernible reason?
Maybe you woke up and getting out of bed seemed like a massive pain in the ass and the thought of just pulling the sheets up over your head seemed really appealing.
What did you do?
Did you get all suspicious and wonder why you were feeling all crappy? Did you try and analyze it and then wonder why you started to feel even worse?
Try this next time when either of the above happen:
In the first situation say to yourself,
“How cool is that I’m happy and you know what? I’m happy that I’m happy – woo-hoo!”
This sets up a happiness spiral whereas you build on your own happiness. In other words, you’re happy that you’re happy, and you’re happy that you’re happy that you’re happy.
In the second situation say to yourself:
“I’m really happy that I spotted that bad mood before it had time to cement itself and become an unhappiness spiral – woo-hoo!”
By being conscious of your mood and not slipping into automatic pilot you then take control and you’re happy that you take control.
Now let’s all sing together “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands”
Ok, maybe not.
Aligning With Your Core Values
If you have a blog and would like to review Aligning With Your Core Values please let me know either in the comments or via e-mail as I am looking for affiliates.
If your blog has more a couple of hundred readers I’d be happy to supply you with a review copy.
I’m also really interested in people that have business slanted blogs as well as Life Coaching and or self development because the book can work really well for people setting up their business values.
Have You Written A Self Development Ebook?
I’m always on the lookout for free ebooks on Life Coaching or general self development to give to my newsletter readers.
They have to be free and with no strings attached like e-mail opt-ins etc.
Let me know if you want to generate some more exposure and I’ll see what I can do.
I have had many days when I’ll be driving to my “day” job and will just be so full of joy that I’m noticing all the beauty that is around me. Those are usually some wonderful days. I need to learn how to hold on to that feeling :D
Thanks for sharing!
Tim, Wishing you spirals and spirals of happiness.
BTW: many educators think all learning is in spirals, you learn something new, then back it around everything you already know, then move forward… perhaps our emotions have those same motions.
Same to you Mary.
That sounds very much life a book I have and have never managed to get through called Spiral Dynamics. Maybe I should give it another crack but it’s very academic and dry.
Hapiness is a state of mind. So if you want to be happy it is a matter of choice and not by incidents. Hapiness is something that cannot be bought but earned. Thanks for this hapiness article!
Agree 95% MArk, there are some people who suffer from severe depression that have that choice taken off them.
Thanks, Tim, for recognizing those of us for whom happiness is NOT a matter of choice, but a battle against an inchoate blackness unaffected by circumstances and events. It’s one thing to reframe a difficult situation, but when everything is going well and you still can’t find the will to live, there’s more at work than a bad attitude.
That said, there are times when a bad mood is simply an opportunity to look at things differently, and your suggestion to catch it before it spirals out of control is an excellent one, Tim. Thanks for another great post!
Hi Tim,
Being aware of the ‘bad mood’ is key. We all have them at times however we can do something about it before it spreads. Thankyou.
be good to yourself
David
That’s true we ALL have them, they’re a necessary part of life. It’s just spotting those slippery suckers that counts.
I’d love to review your book but I don’t think my blog or website has enough traffic. I’m just getting started with Twitter so building my network but as yet still small.
Let me know what you think.
Helen, do you even have a blog, I couldn’t see one?
Also, where were you on the 30 day challenge. I had to fess up and giveaway 6 sessions of coaching and only 3 people admitted to completing it?
Dear Lord,I have fallen freakishly many times in the -”I wonder why I have a bad mood”-vacuum!Great piece of advice,I will give it a go :D
Yes, do i!