How to be Happy - Now and in the Future: How to Be Happy, #3

By J. A. Powell

Congratulations!  You've scceeded in holding on till the last leg of the journey to finding long and lasting happiness. 

Here, in part three, we turn our attention to ensuring your future happiness through organizing things like your savings strategy for certain security in later life.  We also review ways in which you can realize rewarding relationships, now and in the future.  When it comes to happiness hacks, these ones relating to friendship and fulfilling relationships are the ones that will remain with you throughout your life, making it satisfying, sure and secure.

With these hacks, you can find happiness, not only in the future, but in the here and now.

Along  the way, I've held your hand on this exploration of happiness hacks.  Now, it's time for you to act on what you've learned.  Take that leap of faith toward that happiness horizon.  Take on the tasks and be happy.

You can do it, little bird.  Jump!  I believe  you can fly!

• Language: English
• Publisher: EMPower Publishing Ltd.
• Release date: May 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201578602

J. A. Powell

udy Powell has always been a lover of learning, starting the first grade at the age of two years and eight months* and checking out her first chapter book from the library by the age of five ('Ramona The Pest' by Beverly Cleary).  By age nine, she had passed nine subjects in the then recognized high school certicate exams. Judy's favorite hobby is reading.  She loves to learn and is forever reading and studying, regardless of the subject - which is why she has multiple master's degrees and has done graduate studies in various fields: from business to foreign languages to the Humanities (English Literature) to Creative Writing to  Clinical Psychology. Judy loves to share her knowledge and so she invites you to come on this journey with her - as she says, "Let's study our way to success!" * Judy's mom, a second grade teacher, had no babysitter for her toddler so the teacher down the hall, the first grade teacher, took Judy into her class and let her attend there for three years.  She was not allowed to move to the second grade until she turned six.  Being immersed in learning from such an early age, Nno wonder she loves to study!

Book preview

Poised, Prepared & Peaceful Perspectives

PART ONE

THE POWER OF THE POISED PERSPECTIVE

t's the strangest thing but right now, in my 50’s and disabled, I'm happier than when I was in my 20’s and totally healthy. I've come to the conclusion that it's all a matter of perspective - the way you see things, the way you see the

world.

In my 20’s, I used to get depressed fairly regularly. There was always something to cause concern - how did I look that day, would that guy ask me on a second date, would I one day get married and have children, what if I got sick, would I live a long life, when would I die?

Now, in my 50’s, I look back and I wonder why I was constantly concerned about sickness and dying instead of cele- brating my good health and the fact that I was alive. Now, not married, not healthy, closer to death than I ever was, I'm way happier than I was in the past.

What made the difference? It's a matter of perspective. The way I see life now, I revel in the relatively simple things in life. Getting out of the house and going to the park to sit under a tree? Heaven! I revel in the gift of nature. When I'm surrounded by green (grass, leaves), that's when I'm at my most creative. That's when I'm in the flow and write with the words flowing fast. What greater gift is there, than getting close to nature - sitting under a tree, by a river, on a warm, sandy beach? For me, these are the sweetest times.

And, to top it all off, I may not have money to splurge on travel or shopping for the latest gadgets, but if my bills are up to date and there's food in the fridge, I'm good and happy. You see, I've now lived long enough to realize that there are those who are facing greater challenges than I am. Some are sicker, some may be suffering abuse, some are even homeless.

With this in mind, my perspective shifts from centering on my sorrows to celebrating my blessings.

here are times in life when we do not accept the way things are. We do not accept mediocre performance, incomplete work, abuse - whether physical, mental or emotional. That is good. There are some things we should not accept.

However, there are other times when the acceptance of a situation is the wisest course of action. There are times when it makes sense to accept what you cannot change and make the best of the situation. As one who has a disability, do I worry and rail about my situation? No, I understand my limitations and I work within them. I accept the things I cannot change, and I do not let them keep me down. I simply adjust, and get my work done, regardless.

I used to be a senior manager in a multinational corporation, but that required mobility, as I had to get around to visit our key customers, many times, outside of the country. Now, all of my work is done online - writing jobs, tutoring, etc. I accepted my limitations and I adjusted. I earn less, but I also adjusted my lifestyle, living more modestly to make things work. I live in a home with tons of stairs. I simply moved my living space to the basement and I'm enjoying being closer to nature (the basement is on the ground floor where I can step outside and enjoy the sunshine and the trees).

In short, acceptance rather than denial of a situation can lead to greater happiness.

once read about a woman whose parents wanted her to become a lawyer. She spent the years required to study law, passed the bar, but absolutely hated the profession. She went back to school and spent the years required to become a doctor, and that is how she now finds her fulfillment. She is