Find Happiness: Get Your Life on One Page™—Part Two
by William S. Frank
Remember, money isn't everything. There's a greater good than having a high-paying job: having a balanced, happy life. Dennis Prager wrote a book called "Happiness is a Terrible Problem."
He says if money caused happiness, millionaires would all be happy. But of course, they aren't.
Stop doing. Peter Drucker, the well-known management authority asked companies, "What can you stop doing?" Sometimes stopping is more important, and more difficult, than beginning or continuing. One quote I like said, "It's easier to get in than to get out." I've found that to be true in my own life. Some of the most painful times have involved getting out.
Make a 4-column chart like the one below and see what it reveals:
Things I want to do MORE OF
Things I want to do LESS OF
Things I want to START doing
Things I want to STOP doing
Inspire yourself. Include motivational or inspirational quotes. Quote your heroes, favorite authors, motivational speakers, celebrities, TV personalities, world leaders. Or quote the Bible or spiritual teachings. Quote your family, friends, parents-anyone you hold dear to your heart.
Showcase your values. If you have a personal motto or life mission, include it. This chart is all about what you stand for.
Don't grade your work. There is no good or bad, no right or wrong. You can't do it badly.
Revisit and update. This is a living document. Much like a resume, it won't help you if you don't think about it, revise it, and use it as a guide for your life. Doing it once will help; revisiting it often adds power. If you put something into your page, take something else out.
Share it. In order to gain maximum advantage from your "Life on One Page," it helps to get input and energy from others. Every time I've shared mine with friends, they want to do their own, and this leads to more sharing. Ultimately, this exercise is about achieving focus, clarity, purpose and meaning for yourself, and about building community.
Benefits of L1P™
You have a sense of focus, clarity, purpose and meaning for your life. You know why you're alive.
You feel more organized and in control.
When someone asks, "Can you do X,Y, or Z?" you know exactly what to say. You may find it easier to say no than you have in the past.
You have greater alignment with the important people in your life: spouse/partner, children, family, friends, co-workers, customers-everybody.
You stop feeling "There isn't enough time," realizing that there's plenty of time if you rearrange items on your chart.
Greater happiness is a byproduct.
Downsides of L1P™
Your L1P™ assures you that you can't do or have it all. There are only 24 hours in the day-168 hours per week-there isn't enough room on the page. This sobering realization can cause some sadness and disappointment. When I did mine I realized I'm human, I'm limited, I can't do everything.
I can't both care for my 91-year-old father in Arvada and also cruise the Mediterranean—at the same time. However, I realize I can travel later.
You may discover regrets. The scholar and mythologist Joesph Campbell said, "We always regret the unlived life." Married people with children regret not being carefree singles. Carefree singles regret not having loving children. [Of course, singles these days adopt children. But you understand the principle.] There's no way to live life regret-free; regrets are built into the human experience.
You may have to say no more often. If everything has to fit together into a coherent whole, spending $595 for kickboxing lessons may have to wait.
