Another example might be that you don't like the way that other people treat you. OK - so what is it about the way that others treat you that you don't like?
Or maybe you get upset by the fact that your work environment is not as good as it could be, or your relationship with your parents could be better, or the way the planet is being polluted worries you.
Whatever you can think of that makes you unhappy, just write it down - be as specific as you can and don't worry if it doesn't seem to 'make sense' - put it on your list anyway.
NOW: Once you've completed the list take each point and ask yourself this question; 'What is the OPPOSITE to this - if this point makes me unhappy then by turning it around and looking at it from the other side what would be the opposite of that - because it is THAT opposite that would actually contribute to your happiness - do you see?
For example - you don't like the way your colleagues treat you at work - this makes you unhappy. You've noted down that the thing you really don't like is the way they speak to you and treat you as though you are less important than they are.
OK - so let's turn that around. IF your colleagues spoke to you with common courtesy and treated you with respect and listened to your opinion and in doing so make you feel that you were important to them, wouldn't that make you happier about your work colleagues?
Or - if one of the things you wrote down that makes you unhappy is that you don't like 'lazy people' or people who tell lies, or the fact that there is poverty in the world - then just note down the opposites of those things, or the concept that these represent.
By doing this you are starting to answer your own questions about what happiness is. Because it goes without saying that if you don't know the answer to this question - 'What makes me happy' then how on earth can you ever expect to achieve it??!
Knowing WHAT you are trying to achieve is the FIRST step to getting there - right?
Feel free to send any comments or thoughts on this as I'm really interested in hearing back on what you discover doing this experiment!
© 2006 Sarah Lake
info@sarahlake.com
* Article © 2006 Sarah Lake. Visit www.sarahlake.com for more original content like this. Reprinting this article is permitted with this footer included.
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