The information presented in this chapter is designed to begin the process of converting the raw material of the happiness list items into an actual plan that will change who you are as a person. In order to convert these random lists into a set of short and long term goals, you can start by examining your natural talents.
Once you start to reflect on the topic of happiness, a natural internal dialogue begins to take place. You have written down all the things that will make you happy in addition to the things that you want to change to improve your life.
The happiness lists not only identify what makes you happy along with the behaviors and habits that need changing; they identify two more very important aspects about you. The list will clarify your innate talents along with the extent to which fear has impeded your life.
It is sad to watch people live their lives never doing the things they truly enjoy. Why people are willing to ignore the things that bring happiness is a mystery. Often this is because they are taught certain roles to play in life. These roles are passed down through generations and the desires of the individuals are lost. They learn to ignore what they want for their lives and settle for something far less.
What the JTP is saying is simple: question everything! Do you really like what you are doing? Do you enjoy your career? Do you feel satisfied with your relationships? What would you do instead?
Talents are built within each of us. Every person has a distinct set of innate natural abilities. Some would say that God designed this in each individual. Others argue that it “just is.” Whatever you believe the origin of such abilities makes no difference. What is important is identifying the talents you have, and then using your free will and choice to apply these talents in ways that will help you to experience life’s abundant joy.
When writing your happiness lists, don’t hesitate to write anything that brings you good feelings. These items may be pointing you in the direction of your natural talents. Since talents are innate, identifying them, and basing goals on them is the most efficient path to permanent happiness and success.
This part of the book is designed to help you identify all the positive aspects of your life. It will create self-awareness that will enable you to change into a person greater than you previously thought you could be; greater than you have been in recent years; perhaps greater than you have ever been. You are now moving into new territory. You are taking the raw material you wrote in the happiness lists, and organizing it into a detailed, organized future plan.
We were not created to live in constant pain! I think we can all agree on that as we’ve done it already, and it was pointless. Consider that if life really was meant to be an endless stream of tears, humans would have no need for joy, nor would they have a way to experience it.
Some guests find it very difficult to unearth their talents. Others find it equally difficult to know what makes them happy. This is most likely due to the fact that they have used and abused substances as shortcuts to temporary happiness for several years. In substance abusing lifestyle people are so dedicated to their habits they have no clue about any other means to gain happiness or joyful living.
Becoming humble, or gaining humility, is the process of having an accurate understanding of oneself. On the other hand, arrogance is the process of overstating one’s gifts and abilities, or demonstrating them with little regard for others’ feelings.
An effective method for identifying your talents is to go through your childhood memories and try to remember the things that made you happy as a child. This should spark memories of happy moments, the activities that brought you happiness and any talents that you’ve forgotten.
|
