Remember Will Smith’s “The Pursuit of Happyness”? The film was based on a true story about a man who had nothing and his struggle towards success. It was a big hit of its time and truly memorable with just one big concern: Nothing against Will Smith, we love him! But it’s the title of the movie we’re not a fan of. And it’s not limited to that movie - there are several other movies and renowned books with the same title – “The Pursuit of Happiness.” Even the American Declaration of Independence defines pursuit of happiness as one of the unalienable Rights. What’s our issue with it?
Well, according to Webster, ‘pursuit’ means ‘to follow or chase.’ 'Chasing' happiness makes it feel like it's not really part of your life yet. And that's exactly the mindset trap that makes you feel you're never quite "there" when it comes to success and happiness. You achieve a goal, but then it's on to the next pursuit, the next box to check before you are finally happy. Never appreciating how far you've actually come. Time to stop pursuing this far-off happiness!
Happiness is within you. It’s not something you get! It’s something to be felt! In every waking moment. With the book “The Gap and the Gain” by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy as your journey guide, we’ll rewrite the internal script from "I'll be happy when..." to "I am happy because..."
Summary
Happiness isn't a far-off destination - it's right here, waiting for you to notice it. All it wants from you is shifting your focus from the GAP to the GAINS. That's all it takes to create happiness. So, celebrate your wins, and transform your mindset before bedtime, tonight. With these tools in your arsenal, you're actively building a better, happier life, one GAIN at a time. Ready to flip the script and start living in the GAIN?
Shatter the "GAP" Mindset!
Okay! It's established that we've been duped into thinking happiness is some reward for "making it" in life. Now, let's start with blasting that notion into oblivion! Happiness isn't a pursuit, it's your starting point! Dr. Barbara L. Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory is a literal proof of it! She found that positive emotions like joy, gratitude and serenity don't just feel good - they actually broaden your mind, allowing you to see more possibilities. This positive mindset becomes the catalyst for...
Break Free from the Comparison Trap and Redefine Success
Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Our world bombards us with messages that shape our desires and goals. But true happiness comes from within, not from external comparisons.The speaker Zig Ziglar captured it perfectly: "Your input determines your outlook. Your outlook determines your output, and your output determines your future."Focusing on external factors like social media feeds puts you in a constant state of "The GAP" - a place where you measure yourself against unrealistic ideals....
The way you perceive your life influences your actions and choices
You live in the GAP when your mindset is negative, right? Anything and everything around you doesn’t seem to be good enough, thereby making you anxious and angry. It's a cycle of stress that not only zaps your happiness but also takes a toll on your body. Studies show chronic stress can accelerate aging by messing with how your genes function.Think of it like this: short bursts of stress, like a challenging workout, can actually be beneficial (called "hormetic stress")....
The only progress you can achieve is the progress you measure
We’re happy when we have a sense that we’re making progress toward our goals. But how to truly define this progress? We need to base it on concrete goals. Vague and general goals like “success” or “wealth” or being more like someone you admire can’t lead you to the feeling of progress. When we set goals, we must be specific so we know when they’re accomplished—usually, a number was reached or an event took place. Only being able to make...
GAIN Time Before Bedtime
So yeah, GAIN is something you can practice throughout the day. But, there is one "sweet spot" hour in your day that has the biggest impact on it - the 60 minutes right before bedtime. What you do during this time can literally make-or-break your GAIN mindset.We can't emphasize enough the immense potential this nighttime hour holds! This one hour positively shapes not just your sleep quality, but your entire next day as well. How? Because your behaviors and thoughts...
Reframe negative experiences into GAIN
Look, stuff happens. But when we see it as the GAP in our perfect plan, it leaves us feeling powerless and stuck. the secret to avoid that? Reframing those experiences as the GAIN!When you see an experience as a gain, you decide its meaning. Every experience, especially the bumpy ones, is a chance to grow. Did that missed promotion teach you valuable negotiation skills? You bet! By focusing on what you learned, you turn setbacks into stepping stones.We can't change...
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About the Author
Dan Sullivan is the world’s foremost expert on entrepreneurship and has coached more successful entrepreneurs than anyone on the planet. He is the cofounder of Strategic Coach®, the leading entrepreneurial coaching program in the world, and author of more than 50 publications on entrepreneurial success. Over the past 30-plus years, Strategic Coach has provided teaching and training to more than 20,000 entrepreneurs.
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