The Key to Happiness

What is happiness? If you had to define it right this very second, how would you? Don’t read ahead but really think about it.

What is happiness?

Once you have that defined, ask yourself:

How do you achieve happiness?

As I went out on my own, this question became core to my decision.

After a December dinner where I shared my plans to leave a job and team I loved to go out on my own, my very sweet friend Michelle Salob sent me a link to Stacey Flowers TEDx talk on Happiness. My next blog will talk about other aspects of Stacey’s talk but when I saw the title of the talk, “The 5 People You Need to Be Happy” I found myself pondering deeply my own definition of happiness.

In the talk, Stacey defines happiness:

“Happiness is about releasing your God-given talent to positively impact the world.”

-Stacey Flowers

As I struggled with acting on my well-thought-out and carefully-planned decision to leave my job so I could start my own business, this definition became a true north. As much as I loved what I was doing and adored my team, I knew I was being pulled in another direction, and I realized it was because I had God-given talents that were not being fully used in my role. As long as I was not using them, I was not fulfilling my potential to have maximum impact. Once I realized this, there was no turning back. I suspect my wise friend Michelle knew I needed this message.

I was recently interviewing leaders on the topic of burnout. When I interviewed Pete Sanborn, retired Talent leader of Hewitt/Aon/Kincentric, he mentioned that in his experience burnout wasn’t as much about how long you work but instead what you do while you are working. He spoke powerful truth. Over the past 4 months, I have worked long hours, seven days a week as I set up my business, yet somehow it has not felt like work but instead a passion.

What are your God-given talents that need to be released to positively impact the world in order for you to be truly happy? What have you been holding back, or perhaps better worded, what has held you back? Perhaps it’s fear, the influence of others, a lack of clear direction.

Since I started releasing my talent to positively impact others, people have told me that it’s not only helped them but they see a difference in me. Specifically, I have had several people tell me I look younger. They have said I have a light that radiates from me. I believe when you are being true to what you were created to do and using those gifts in service of others, happiness is inevitable.

Helping people make their dreams a reality fills my cup with happiness. If you would like to discuss how we could partner to release your God-given talents to positively impact the world, please reach out.