The Choice is Ours
Hanging on to Hope
From Acknowledgement to Action
As inflation rages out of control across the globe, as reports of school shootings, violence in US cities and the war in the Ukraine dominate the news, and as nations continue to struggle to recover from viruses related to Covid-19 … We need to ask ourselves:
“Is it even possible to continue to Hang on to Hope and find a small measure of happiness in our lives today?”
I believe the answer to that question is a resounding “YES!”
Happiness Still Matters!
One of my favorite authors and life coaches is an individual by the name of Brendon Burchard. He recently published a post entitled “Happiness Still Matters” and his words resonated with me. In his coaching career, Brendon has found that many people “discount” the value of happiness. By this he means that they say things like ‘Life isn’t all about happiness’ or ‘happiness is just fleeting so don’t expect it so much’ or ‘there’s so many TERRIBLE things happening in this world, how can you be so SELFISH…happiness doesn’t matter.’ But Brandon emphatically believes from his 16+ years of coaching people that “…generating and cherishing happiness is IMPORTANT to our lives.”
He goes on to state: “Yes, there are a lot of other things we want and need to also seek: meaning, strength, depth, competency, fulfillment, connection, belonging, love, growth, actualization.
But people who have meaning in their life? They’re happier.
People who have love and fulfillment? Happy.
People who can see, face, confront the struggle and suffering and awfulness of this world and still find, choose, generate some peace, kindness, appreciation, joy…doesn’t that matter?
No, not everyone is always happy. But, certainly, those who choose it and build for some meaning and joy and light have happiness more consistently than others.”
What advice can Brendon give us for today and the future? “MAKE HAPPINESS A PRIORITY and MAKE HAPPINESS A PRACTICE.”
From Brendon Burchard: Happiness Still Matters 5/29.2022 brendon.com
The Pursuit of Happiness
and
What we can learn from Hummingbirds
One of the incredible founding documents in the United States of America is The Declaration of Independence. Within that document we find these words: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The pursuit of happiness does not mean that we are guaranteed happiness from our government. The important take away from this document is that we have the right to pursue happiness in our individual lives.
For the past several years, my amazing spouse, Debbie, has placed hummingbird feeders on our patios and fed these fantastic little creatures with a mixture of sugar and water. Watching these industrious tiny birds feeding has provided many moments of enjoyment for both of us. We can learn a lot from them on how to live our lives and to pursue happiness and joy within it…regardless of what is going on around us.
I recently came across the following article on the internet which provides a perspective on the nature and symbolism of hummingbirds that I had not previously considered. The article can be found in the following location on the Internet:
Hummingbird Symbolism & What It Means To See A Hummingbird (msn.com)
As I consider the actions of the hummingbirds to their environment, I notice a constant awareness from them on what is occurring around them and a readiness to respond to any real or perceived threat. They control their actions, focus on their responses and act immediately. They do not try to control things and situations over which they have no control.
Taking this observation into our own life experiences, we can see that the issue is control over our choices.
The choice is ours. We can focus on the things we cannot control and stress out about it, or we can focus on, and pursue, those things that we can control. I cannot ignore what is going on in the world around me, but I can choose my thoughts and how I respond … both physically and emotionally. It is my choice.
And with regard to happiness, I choose to pursue that mental and emotional state of joy. How about you?
Updates for June / July, 2022
Updates for June / July, 2022 have been included on the following “Hanging on to Hope” web pages:
- Punchlines
- Resources
Our cartoon characters have not been idle over the past few months. Hope and Harry address the subject of Inflation and Simon and Specs take a look at a popular phrase related to happiness:
On the Resources page of this website, we have included a special section on Taking Action in the Face of Loss. In light of the recent tragic and unexpected loss of lives in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX we felt it would be appropriate to include this section. In the section, we highlight the contributions of Dr. Lucy Hone, who lost her 16 year old daughter in an automobile accident in 2014. Among Dr. Hone’s many accomplishments as an author and speaker is a popular TED Talk which can be located online at the following location:
Lucy Hone: 3 secrets of resilient people | TED Talk
We have also included resources related to Happiness on the Resources page which you may wish to check out.
I welcome any questions and comments you might have regarding the “Hanging on to Hope” website and blog. Enjoy your summer months and in the meantime, I encourage you to:
Find the Courage to Pursue Happiness!
It Still Matters!
Larry the Lion-Hearted Lion
And remember…
Adversity in life is NOT optional, but your response to it is!
Hang on to Hope!
Gregory Charles Reynolds
Hanging on to Hope! 