I have been thinking about all of the things in this world that are FREE! Despite what our consumer driven society tells us – it does not cost money to lose weight. Face it; eating less, exercising outdoors ( now that it is finally spring!) and moving more often during the day for any reason is all FREE and can even save money on the cost of food and medical expenses.
Spending quality time listening to someone talk and share their thoughts and feelings is FREE.
It used to be that we considered time equal to money but now we consider time more valuable than money. We are willing to spend our dollars on convenience food and services just to save time!
Save time for what? Are we motivated to save time because we are tired, overworked, overscheduled? Are we searching for a little moment of happiness?
So how can we buy happiness? Spending our money on others actually produces feelings of happiness more than spending money on ourselves.
The Biblical practice of tithing has power because it doesn’t wait for the future. It draws a state of flow into the present by insisting, “In this moment, I have plenty. I’m rich enough to give.”
Tosha Silver from Outrageous Openness
In this TED Talk by Michael Norton he shares the research on happiness producing events. Happy people are everywhere these days. Clean pictures of happy people in work clothes are showing up on everything – I even changed my website banner to convey more happiness and community. The “pro-social experience” is described as one in which each team member contributes for the good (or fun) of the group and this activity gets the highest potential happiness ratings.
How can I engage in “pro-social” events on a daily basis? The key is to be a part of a group that contributes equally for the common good. That describes the overwhelming attractiveness of walks or runs for causes, benefit events and opportunities to donate to victims of natural disasters or human suffering. I would like to go one step further and suggest that the “pro-social” experience may lead to joyfulness! Be careful how happy you start to get – it might stick with you and become inner joy and gratitude!
“Happiness is tied to circumstances and joyfulness is tied to spirit and gratitude.”
Brené Brown from The Gifts of Imperfection
Tuned In Coaching is Tuned In to You! 