Is anyone happy these days?
The only thing that will make you happy is being happy.
I was interacting with the outside world today (1/10, don't recommend) and someone asked what I do. When I explained that I help people build a happy life with a business that fits within it - basically taking a happiness-first approach to life/goals - they just looked at me and said "Does that really work though? Is anyone happy these days?"
Yes, it does work, and yes they are.
Now, my nuance-obsessed brain wants to clarify that this doesn't mean:
we're ignoring the state of the world and everything happening globally
we have no problems
we're perfectly content with everything
we feel good and joyful every single day
I've got my handful of challenges at the moment. We all do. And yes, I have goals and dreams and things I want to achieve.
But here's the big secret that I don't see any business coach saying: The only thing that will make you happy is being happy. If you're not happy now, you might hit your goals, but you won't be able to create a life you love.
You'll recognise this if you're stuck in a never-ending achievement loop. You know the one - where you set a goal, hit it, still feel rubbish so you move the goalpost forward, achieve that, still feel rubbish, move it again... and on and on forever. You keep thinking "if I was making six figures, then I'd be happy" or "once I'm fully booked with clients I'll feel content."
And you hire the coaches and take the courses that promise those things. And you keep running on that hamster wheel, chasing the achievement that will definitely bring you happiness this time.
Then after a bit, you end up on my doorstep, burnt out and exhausted. Realising you've been outsourcing your decision making, listening to everyone else about what you should do, and that some part of you hates the business you've built and the grind for constant sales and success.
It's okay, it's not your fault, and you're not alone.
Society teaches us that happiness comes through achievement. Our capitalistic world needs us to yearn for bigger cars, bigger houses, more money, better skin, more impressive holidays. And for entrepreneurs, that means more clients, more sales, more products sold, ever increasing profit lines.
But I want to normalise making decisions for your business based on what makes you happiest - not what you should do, not what's most profitable, now what that one coach said to do, not even what seems like the "right" decision on paper.
I want to normalise treating building a happy life as the most important thing you can do for yourself (and your business).
And then maybe people will stop asking me if anyone is really happy.
Keep being messy and human and remember that what you want matters,
Joeli
P.S. If you're wondering "But how????", that's what we work on inside of Emerge. If you're wanting to flip the script and focus on happiness instead of goals and create a life you love (and a biz that fits within that life), send me an email or head here to learn more.
P.P.S. I really believe that lack of finances shouldn’t hold anyone back, so if you need an extended payment plan or a reduced rate, please feel free to ask.