Secrets to Happiness # 5: Gotta Have Some Self-Control

Going back to our Happiness Series, today we talk about self-control

To be happy you have to have self-control.

Self-control has to be exercised at two different levels:

1.     Emotional versus rational:

Remember the reason it\s so hard to be happy: we all have negative thoughts  - because part of our brain (amygdala)  is always scanning the world for problems as a survival tool - it is our emotional side.

On the other hand, we have a rational side in our brain (pre-frontal cortex) which helps you think things through.

The trick is not to control our emotions, but rather to control our reactions to our emotions.

2. More versus enough

Today we live in a culture of more instead of the old culture of enough - it's a growing trend for over a century - known as Consumer Economy.

People are no longer content with enough but wanting always something more; it's not about needs but desires. More, more we all want more. It’s the “Keeping up with the Joneses” syndrome.

When faced with this reality, remember that a persona can have everything if he has the knowledge of having enough.

One of the core values we have as a company is to inspire and empower people in all aspects of their lives. Additionally, if you want to read about our Custom Software Solutions and Consulting Services, please visit www.isucorp.ca

Secrets to Happiness # 4: Accept Yourself

How do we accept ourselves and think highly of others at the same time?

There a 3 steps to achieve a high opinion of yourself:

Don’t Hide

People tend to mask themselves in a form of self-judgment in some cases because they do not want to be judged by others and in other cases because of humility - either way, it has to do with fear; fear of expressing their own accomplishments. 

Stop Apologizing

Apologizing for your accomplishments or for who you are is another form of self-judgment. Apologizing avoids ownership, creates distance and suggests a mistake.

Accept

Find what's hidden, stop apologizing and accept yourself. You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish - you are not responsible for what other people expect you to be.

You are who you are, it makes you unique, accepting who you are improves your confidence, confidence opens the doors to accomplish growth and your internal goals. 

One of the core values we have as a company is to inspire and empower people in all aspects of their lives. Additionally, if you want to read about our Custom Software Solutions and Consulting Services, please visit www.isucorp.ca

Secrets to Happiness # 2: Internal, Fulfilling Goals

Some weeks ago we wrote an article that said that the No. 1 Secret for being happy is to be happy first and THEN be successful; not the other way around.

Today we’ll write about the Secret No. 2: 

No matter how many external goals you achieve, happiness comes only by accomplishing internal ones.

External goals become unlimited; people tend to set goals, and once accomplished, they set new goals -nothing wrong with it except for the fact that, by itself, it does not translate into happiness. The reason it never translates into happiness is due to the fact that we expect other people’s approval.

You might be working in a well-paid job with a great title but not be happy about it since it does not fulfill your inner self.

When it comes to goals, internal goals are those set with the “DO IT FOR YOU” concept in mind,  not for competition purposes. 
You are doing it because you want to, because you enjoy it, and because it provides meaning to your life and to those people who are part of it.

You are not expecting approval or reward; you are just enjoying the ride and increasing your confidence.

One of the core values we have as a company is to inspire and empower people in all aspects of their lives. Additionally, if you want to read about our Custom Software Solutions and Consulting Services, please visit www.isucorp.ca