Not-So-Great Expectations: How Your Plan Gets in the Way of Your Happiness!

Another great article I ran across on my new favorite site JoyfulHope.org. This article Not-So-Great Expectations, How Your Plan Gets in the Way of Happiness by Erika Bugbee, M.A.,  at Pransky & Associates and the last article I posted How Come I’m Not as Happy as I Am Rich?, by George S. Pransky, PhD are very fitting to me at this particular moment in my life as I grapple with so much change and what appears to be loss. I say “appears” because really the feelings of disappointment, hurt and upset are largely due to the expectations I’ve created in my head or attached to the outcome of certain situations. Most have to do with success vs. failure thought system that most of us judge ourselves by as do our peers. What a an edge to fall from. How can I not be disappointed with that mindset? These articles got me to start asking the right questions again. To think about what I am thinking and how misusing your mind can really create a lot of trouble for you.

In my minds eye, my worst fears have been realized. I’ve lost everything in regards to material possessions and suffered some massive financial set backs, BUT I’ve gained so much more that I can’t put a price on. No amount of money would have given me back my peace of mind, a sane pace of living, a grateful heart, strong relationships with deep lasting connections with my loved ones, and a state of mind that when functioning at optimal levels sees life as a place of opportunity and happiness. I am much wealthier now then I ever thought I was!

I am so grateful that God speaks to us exactly in the moments we need to hear him. Both of these articles put my mind at ease and took me back to my wide lens perspective instead of my narrow minded thinking that always involves the worst possible scenarios built on fear.

I encourage you to read these articles and find out how your expectations are screwing up your happiness!

How Come I’m Not as Happy as I Am Rich?

I found this at JoyfulHope.org. This is a great site on hope, healing and mental well-being. I came across an article written by my dear friend Dr. George Pransky titled How Come I’m Not as Happy as I Am Rich. This powerful article touches upon mental well being and happiness. It explains why people who live in meager circumstances but have high levels of well-being live fuller, richer, happier lives and why people who look to external circumstances, situations our outside of themselves for happiness often feel very disconnected, lonely, unhappy and live over all less fulfilling lives. There exists a gap between ones standard of living and internal well being.

I find this article to be relevant to my life as I have spent the majority of my believing that my happiness was tied into my accomplishments or whatever it was that I placed a high value on. For some it would reaching a certain weight, or looking a certain way, or having so much money, the list is endless. In this article you will quickly learn, as I did, happiness is a state of mind. It is there all the time for the taking but it is us who constantly throw up self-created thought road blocks to prevent ourselves from fully experiencing and enjoying our lives.  Until I met George, I had no idea that I could be happy this moment regardless of what was going on in my life. As Dr. Pransky explains in this article:

To close the gap between standard of living and your internal quality of life, you must understand internal quality of life at least as well as you understand how to be successful in the external world. You must understand that your internal quality of life is generated within your own mind. Internal quality of life is produced by the mind and not received through external circumstances. Your internal quality of life will go up as you understand how the mind works and as you understand where well-being truly comes from.

Happiness eluded me until I met George and I started learning about Mind, Consciousness and Thought and that ultimately I determine my reality via my thoughts. Happiness is an inside out job regardless of your financial situation, current circumstances, or your past.

This article, in my opinion, is exceptional! Please share.