What makes you happy?

If someone asked you today what makes you happy would you know how to answer them? Sometimes we don’t think about things like this, and yet an awareness of our self in this way can be a positive thing.

Last week was one of those times when I had to work to keep a good attitude. I was under stress at work, was frustrated at my own poor communication in several relationships, and was dealing with pain and limitations from an injury. Rather than letting things get me down I decided to be proactive and fight for joy and a positive attitude. I started thinking about various things that make me happy.

Just a few random answers:

• listening to music that has energy, passion, and enthusiasm (I love show tunes and movie soundtracks)
• watching animals and/or children at play
• driving on an open road and playing in the wind with my hand
• helping others
• being silly

Those and other ideas weren’t all things I could do last week, but there were ideas I could put into action. I chose a positive attitude and did what was necessary to achieve it. Are you choosing your attitude, or are you letting life dictate or control it for you. We all have days where things don’t go as planned, or where it seems like a battle to make it through the day. Make a choice each morning regarding which attitude you will put on. Don’t wait for the day to determine your attitude, but choose it before you are even up and dressed for the day.  Did you already choose an attitude for today? If not, why wait any longer…..choose one now.

Do I look at others with curiosity?

Sometimes I feel like I ask way too many questions. Last night I was reading a book that brought me some new insight to questions.

“The ability to ask good questions is a skill which is often untapped. In our society it is more common to hear people talking about themselves than asking questions of others. Self-absorbed people do not ask questions. If you are out of practice, if your capacity to ask loving questions has atrophied, here are some reminders: good questions are honest, appropriate and open-ended.” (Disciplemakers Handbook by Alice Fryling)

The chapter was about being a friend. It has caused me to realize that I ask a lot of questions, but it caused me to stop and take a look at whether I ask them only of me, or do I ask questions of others. Do I use questions to get to know others? When was the last time I asked someone good, open-ended questions in an attempt to build relationship with them?

Other good points from the chapter:

• “Reaching out to others includes allowing them to speak about their experiences in their own words.”
• “Learning to look at life through another’s eyes requires curiosity.”
• “One of our jobs in loving others is to find out what they like to talk about and then engage them in conversation on that topic.”
• “The wonderful thing about questions is that they give you the opportunity to focus on a topic that is of genuine interest to you. And they give your friends the opportunity to respond on the level they choose.”
• “Questions can be manipulative. But they will be only if your intention is to manipulate.”
• “Asking why can be threatening.”
• Ask questions with your eyes as well as your mouth.”

Will you see someone today you can ask an open-ended and honest question to with the intention of getting to know them better?