A month ago I took a leap and declared to the world that I was skipping SMART goals for 2025. SMART goals are important, but they aren’t the be-all, end-all.
I committed to taking small steps to make other people feel good, to find joy.
Yesterday at the grocery store I met Anthony. I’m pretty sure he’s new because I haven’t seen him before. We chatted, and I told him I wanted to learn everyone’s name at the store.
“I really appreciate that,” Anthony said. “It’s nice to feel recognized as a person and not just a thing.”
That’s a pretty powerful statement when you pause to reflect on it. Here is this man working to help me with groceries. And he’s viewed by some of you out there as a thing, not as Anthony a person.
Think about that one for a while. How do you treat others? How do you like to be treated? Are you a person or a thing?
Now that I’ve bummed you out, let me give you a little gift.
Ever since I started writing about us looking for joy, I’ve been battling an earworm – “Joy to the World!” by Three Dog Night.
The original lyrics were written by Hoyt Axton. Here is a link to the music itself. I dare you to tell me this song doesn’t bring you joy! Sing it loud, sing it proud!
“Jeremiah was a bullfrog
Was a good friend of mine
I never understood a single word he said
But I helped him a-drink his wine
And he always had some mighty fine wine
Singin’
“Joy to the world
All the boys and girls now
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me . . . ”
And keep the bullfrogs – any frogs – away from me. They scare me silly.
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Can a single mindset change improve your happiness? Yes, it can! If you need a mood boost today, try this reframe…https://mentorloft.com/happiness/.
When was the last time that you had a crisis on your hands? How did you respond? Were you as cool and as confident as you want to be? Or did it get the best of you? If you want to learn how to be cooler than a cucumber even when the pressure is on, take our free and fun assessment: How Well Do You Communicate In a Crisis?
If you are with me on my mission to increase happiness this year, then this week’s book is absolutely one that you need to add to your TBR pile.
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From the publisher:
It’s the reason why spending time on Facebook makes us feel sad and lonely. Why expensive name-brand medicines provide better pain relief than the generic stuff, even if they share the same ingredients. And why a hospital room with a good view speeds up recovery from surgery.
The truth is, the way we think about ourselves and the world around us dramatically impacts our happiness, health, how fast or slow we age, and even how long we live. In fact, people with a positive mindset about aging live on average 7.5 years longer than those without.
That might sound alarming to those of us who struggle to see the bright side, but the good news is we can make surprisingly simple changes or small shifts to how we think, feel, and act that will really pay off.
What is bringing you happiness these days? I’d love to hear about it. And if you need some help reaching your retirement or career goals, or even just mapping out your plan to do so, then book a free call with me and let’s chat.
Remember: Leaders don’t bail. Leaders FINISH STRONG.