“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Albert Schweitzer.
Greetings GrownUps. Last time I talked about the importance of using our own strengths so we can focus on doing what we are good at doing. Before I forget, here is the link to the test I talked about, to find out what your strengths are. It is quite a long test but I hope you find it useful.
To recap on what we were talking about last time, as we move into the next stage of our lives (some people refer to this as the ‘third age’) the keys to seeking happiness now feature two important words, engagement and fulfillment.
Engagement
Engagement is being involved in things that attract and hold our attention. Athletes refer to it as “being in the zone”; others say it is being focused. Characteristics of being engaged are:
- Having high levels of concentration and focus
- Being unaware of feelings in the moment
- Feeling invigorated afterwards
- Losing track of time
- Living your values
- Being authentic
We do this by choosing to do things that use our strengths. Our strengths do not usually radically change over the course of our lives. If you have taken the test on the link above there will be a few (say 2-4) that stand out as being stronger than the others. We call these our ‘signature strengths’. It has been found that we are more satisfied and productive , and become more skilful when we focus on these strengths.
Are you now at a period in your life now when you can concentrate more on these rather than on what someone else may require you to do?
Or would you like to get yourself into a position in your life when you can use your signature strengths more regularly?
For some of us this may be something we can plan to do ourselves or discuss with a close friend or spouse. For others we may need to talk with a professional to create a plan and stick to it.
Fulfilment
The last signpost on the road to happiness in retirement or the third age is about fulfilment, about having a meaningful life. This is about choosing to do what makes our lives most important and most significant. It is more than using our strengths to do what we are passionate about. It is about feeling we are making a contribution and are very worthwhile. In many instances people like you and I who have a wealth of experience and skills. We have opportunities to contribute to the lives of others, pass on family histories, be very grand-grandparents, and reflect on what and who has influenced us in our lives, on what are the things that are really important to us?
I will talk more about this another time.
Must see video
Are you going to finish strong? Here is a very powerful video.
“Occasionally in life, there are those moments of unutterable fulfilment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only by articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.” Martin Luther King.
Until next time!
Ron Tustin
Read more articles from Ron Tustin.
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