How to Pursue a Happy Life
A blog about LIFE. So that’s the assignment? Something to christen this section of my new website? Wow, no pressure.
What life means? How to live it? You think I have those answers?
If I did, they’d be hidden here behind a paywall!
No, seriously, what I hope to do on this site is periodically share some ideas about what a happy life means to me and how I go about pursuing it.
I often think that the longer I live, the less I know. So I try hard to avoid to avoid phrases like “you should” or (even worse) “you’ve got to.” A better approach is for each of us is to learn from our frequent mistakes and figure out what works best for us.
My own approach includes things like:
* Listening to and learning from wiser people from all walks of life.
* Trusting my “inner voice” more than anything else.
* Treating growth and improvement as a never ending quest.
* Reframing obstacles as opportunities.
* Severing the emotional connection to painful memories.
* Seeking adventure.
* Savoring solitude.
* Practicing gratitude daily.
* Not taking life too seriously!
Do some of these seem contradictory? To me, they aren’t.
I’ve grabbed little pieces of wisdom wherever I can find them: friends, books, videos, and Instagram captions. But when facing a decision or a fork in the path, I have learned to trust my gut. That starts with tuning out external static and stimuli… and finding stillness. It often ends with ignoring the advice of people who care about you and mean well. I’ve done that so many times. If I hadn’t, my life path would certainly have taken me in wildly different directions.
After 35 years on TV and 59 years on the planet, I honestly try to improve professionally and personally every day. I see myself as a “seeker” more than a “believer.” To me, always seeking means staying open to the endless possibilities life offers.
This has been very important to me: being more inspired by possibilities than intimidated by obstacles. That provides the freedom within each of us to pivot and reinvent ourselves when needed. And there are more people seeking reinvention right now than any time period I’ve experienced.
For me, solitude is essential daily medicine. Being alone in nature is preferable.. and powerful. That might be high in the Colorado mountains, my happiest place. Or it could be a bike ride along the beach, a walk in the park, meditating in the backyard, or even a coffee on the roof deck. Whatever’s available.
At various times, spending a whole day, or several days, virtually alone has been crucial therapy. Reconnecting with ourselves can be really challenging these days. But for me the rewards have always been well worth the effort.
There’s one more type of therapy that’s proved priceless for me: laughter. My wonderful marriage of 21 years has been strengthened and nurtured by countless long, loud laughs!
Laughing creates quick connections and builds lasting bonds. It cuts stress and reshapes brain chemistry to make us healthier, happier, and more resilient. I like what Ricky Gervais said: “If you can laugh in the face of adversity, you’re bulletproof.”
Laughing at the absurdity of life has gotten me through a lot. And I wake up truly grateful for each day.
I hope you got something out of this introductory post. From time to time, I’ll dive a little deeper into some of these ideas, and others, either in written form or videos. If you have related topics that interest you, please send me a note on social media, as I’d love to hear from you.