![\"Happiness](\"https:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Happiness_Is_Not.jpg\")
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(Tom I saw the above image and this post. Comment below.)<\/p>\n
And dance like no one’s watching.<\/p>\n
(Tom: First, some definitions: My perspective is that there are three desirable states:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The might seem to be contrary states of being but if you work at it you can attain the peace of mind by being content with what you have concurrently with a desire to improve conditions while attaining happiness overcoming obstacles and producing products progressing towards accomplishing your goals.<\/p>\n Your Action Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n Here’s a little exercise to help you attain this state of being:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n (Tom I saw the above image and this post. Comment below.) We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough, and we’ll be more content when they are. After that, we’re frustrated that we have teenagers to … <\/p>\n
\ngrateful:<\/strong>\u00a0feeling or showing an appreciation for something done or received.
\ncontent:<\/strong> willing to accept a particular thing; satisfied, accept as adequate despite wanting more or better.
\nhappy:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.<\/span><\/p>\n1. being content with what good you currently have in your life,<\/div>\n2. being constructively discontent and working towards a better scene for yourself and others and<\/div>\n3. being happy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThere might seem to be some contradiction in these conditions of being but if you work at it you can maintain a balance and keep these three balls in the air. Let’s explore how.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nContent versus Discontent<\/strong><\/div>\nMany people are discontent with what they have. They allow that to make them unhappy. They do not apply the definition of content that includes, ‘accept as adequate despite wanting more or better’.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nMany are destructively discontent with their existing life. They experience unhappiness about what they do not have. Most likely they have been upset with the scene so go out of communication with it. And you cannot solve a problem you are out of communication with! Without being in communication with an area they cannot come up with a solution to changing it so cannot formulate a concrete plan. Hence, no progress.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhich leads to the first step to improving anything – get more into communication with it!<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA constructive discontent builds a desire to improve, it looks for a way to solve barriers to progress. Constructive discontent gets into communication with all elements of the situation. The more in communication with it you are, the more likely you are to have a light bulb moment and solve the problem!<\/div>\n<\/div>\nProduction and Morale<\/strong><\/div>\nYou may have noticed that when you overcome an obstacle towards you attaining a goal you feel happy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nYou may have also noticed that when you produce something you feel happy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTherefore you may be forgiven for thinking that happiness comes about from overcoming obstacles and producing things, goods or services. I know I do.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n1. Make a list of everything you are grateful for in your past or present.<\/div>\nTake a moment to feel content about those things.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n2. Make a list of those things in your life you would like to change or improve.<\/div>\nFor each item write a skill or ability you could acquire that would help you change that condition.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n3. Set a sequence for the acquisition of those skills and abilities, most important first.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n4. For the first skill or ability, work out how you will attain it. You might need to set conditional targets before you can start attaining the skill. For instance you might need to set aside some money to pay for a course or coach, or gather data so\u00a0 you can evaluate prospective coaches. You might need to ‘sell’ your significant other on the time or money it will take to start this journey. You may find it useful to help them with these steps so you are both working on your shared goals or at least supporting each other on your individual goals, if they do not match.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n5. Make a start on your action plan.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n6. Keep at it, even if you encounter obstacles. Nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without some sweat, sometimes some blood.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n7. Give yourself a pat on the back and celebrate your milestones and wins. Allow yourself to be happy for the small progresses as well as the big wins.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"