Happiness (as defined in the “Burg lexicon”) 😉 is: “a genuine and ongoing feeling of joy and peace of mind; the result of living congruently with one’s values.”
That doesn’t mean we are always in a “state of joy.” After all, life is life, and “yucky” things happen.
Key Point: It does mean living *within the context* of that which makes that definition a reflection of our highest-functioning, most effective, and successful selves.
We can only be truly happy when this is the case.
If not, we cannot be.
Examples: If family time is a high value for you, yet you’re constantly at work and away from those you love (I’m not talking about a special project but rather on a regular basis), then you won’t feel joy and peace of mind.
If honesty is a high value for you, but you are embezzling from your employer, you simply will not feel joy and peace of mind.
If kindness is a high value for you, but you have a habit of gossiping or angrily castigating others, you won’t feel joy and peace of mind.
If eating healthy and being in good shape is a high value for you, but you consistently lose control and wolf down lots of junk food, you cannot feel joy and peace of mind.
Remember: There is a big difference between a rush of short-term pleasure and a genuine and ongoing feeling of joy and peace of mind.
Of course, sometimes the rush or short-term pleasure is totally and absolutely appropriate!
It’s when it isn’t — and we do the thing anyway — that we cannot expect to experience happiness.
Exercise: Take some time to define “happiness” as *you* understand happiness. After all, that’s what counts.
And, measure your actions compared with *your* definition.
