The Attainability of Success Part 1: Happiness
January 15, 2013
When it comes to feeling successful and measuring
our own success, a little outside input from others who judge our success is
inevitable. But how much can we weigh in on this feeling? For me, I find that
the first conversation we have with ourselves each day is generally a good tell
of our feelings on what we do. Waking up in the morning is a lot like a reset
button; a fresh perspective on how we feel about the path we have chosen in
life.
our own success, a little outside input from others who judge our success is
inevitable. But how much can we weigh in on this feeling? For me, I find that
the first conversation we have with ourselves each day is generally a good tell
of our feelings on what we do. Waking up in the morning is a lot like a reset
button; a fresh perspective on how we feel about the path we have chosen in
life.
Out of 7 days, how often do you wake
up feeling content or even happy? How often do you wake up feeling sad or a
little powerless? For me, this week it was 5 happy, 2 unhappy. From this you
can find your Successful Sleep Score (SSS) shown below.
up feeling content or even happy? How often do you wake up feeling sad or a
little powerless? For me, this week it was 5 happy, 2 unhappy. From this you
can find your Successful Sleep Score (SSS) shown below.
If your SSS is over 1, the majority
of your days in the week have you waking up feeling good. If the SSS is under 1,
you are not having a successful sleep and you are waking up feeling restless
and unhappy too much. This sets a negative tone for the rest of your day, and
potentially even week.
of your days in the week have you waking up feeling good. If the SSS is under 1,
you are not having a successful sleep and you are waking up feeling restless
and unhappy too much. This sets a negative tone for the rest of your day, and
potentially even week.
The first key to
success is to make sure you are feeling relaxed and refreshed each morning so
that your perspective on your own achievements can be untainted by outside
effectors.
success is to make sure you are feeling relaxed and refreshed each morning so
that your perspective on your own achievements can be untainted by outside
effectors.
Things that help with this first key to success are
things like getting enough sleep each night. It is also important to make sure
you are not overly stimulated before falling asleep. Instead of watching tv or going
out and partying excessively, try reading or listening to music before bed. This
will help the mind settle down, and will make the transition of waking up in
the morning a lot easier. If you wake up unsettled or groggy in the morning try
a cup of peppermint tea. Peppermint is a natural mood-elevator, and also helps
to soothe the stomach for those of us who wake up with an upset stomach many
mornings.
things like getting enough sleep each night. It is also important to make sure
you are not overly stimulated before falling asleep. Instead of watching tv or going
out and partying excessively, try reading or listening to music before bed. This
will help the mind settle down, and will make the transition of waking up in
the morning a lot easier. If you wake up unsettled or groggy in the morning try
a cup of peppermint tea. Peppermint is a natural mood-elevator, and also helps
to soothe the stomach for those of us who wake up with an upset stomach many
mornings.
The second key to
success is to write when you’re feeling relaxed and happy so that writing
remains associated with positivity.
success is to write when you’re feeling relaxed and happy so that writing
remains associated with positivity.
Never underestimate the power our innate behavioural
tendencies have on our emotions. Studies show that by doing things like eating
or watching tv in our beds, we make it harder to fall asleep when we want to.
This is because when we climb into bed to sleep, our bodies expect to be fed or
our minds expect to be stimulated. The same principle can be applied to other associations.
If we feel unhappy most of the time (i.e. our SSS score is under 1), that means
we are often unhappy when we write. Eventually, even when we aren’t unhappy
writing will become associated with unhappiness. It will become increasingly
harder to just feel happy, let alone successful as a writer. Take advantage of
the happy days to write, and find other outlets to cure unhappiness.
tendencies have on our emotions. Studies show that by doing things like eating
or watching tv in our beds, we make it harder to fall asleep when we want to.
This is because when we climb into bed to sleep, our bodies expect to be fed or
our minds expect to be stimulated. The same principle can be applied to other associations.
If we feel unhappy most of the time (i.e. our SSS score is under 1), that means
we are often unhappy when we write. Eventually, even when we aren’t unhappy
writing will become associated with unhappiness. It will become increasingly
harder to just feel happy, let alone successful as a writer. Take advantage of
the happy days to write, and find other outlets to cure unhappiness.
Happiness is the first of just
a few steps to help empower yourself to achieve success in your life as a
writer (not just in your writing).
a few steps to help empower yourself to achieve success in your life as a
writer (not just in your writing).
