What Makes You Happy?

Recently I had a chance to tell my story, the exciting part where I walked away from a nearly twenty-year career in the meetings and events industry. I felt a desire to contribute to the world in a way that felt more purposeful for me. I found professional speaking and began building a business.

While taking a class with NSA Ohio, the association for professional speakers, one of our instructors challenged us to create videos for social media. The video could be on any topic…it was simply an assignment to practice his lesson.

It was the summer of 2020.

And I didn't know my speaking topic yet.

So, I took what was on my (and many people's) mind, and filmed a 30 second video.

Happiness. We wanted it. We craved it. The world was in chaos; every day was filled with uncertainty and tragedy. A global pandemic brought us together, and it was as if we felt belonging and isolation at the same time.

I viewed the assignment as an opportunity to bring a moment of joy to someone's day. And it turned out to be therapeutic for me as well. I started to think about what made me happy. I shared with anyone watching that sprinkles - specifically, on top of soft serve ice cream - make me happy. That was the fun element, but the gratitude exercise I experienced while developing the script was just what I needed on a solitary summer day in 2020.

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After sharing that story with a new class at NSA Ohio, I kept thinking about the importance of that question.

We experience chaos and uncertainty every day. Whether it's from global circumstances, work or family challenges, or our personal efforts to reach the next achievement, it exists every moment of the day.

How do you manage it?

Stress, anxiety, depression…they impact our health and well-being in massive ways. And as someone who knows firsthand what high cortisol levels can do to your body, I'd like to take my own advice.

What makes me happy?

The answer is so much more than sprinkles on a soft serve ice cream cone.

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You know what's great about that question? Not only does it boost your mood, it helps you connect with others. When you think about something that brings you joy, you shift into a more positive mindset. You become more open, curious, and experimental. You're more likely to say hello to a stranger or reach out to that friend you haven't spoken to in a while.

Practicing gratitude helps us see life from a different perspective. If the perspective we're living with isn't serving us well, I believe gratitude is a healthy place to start. Some people are experts on this. They write books and dedicate their lives to spreading the concept. Maybe it's time we actually listen.

I closed my eyes a moment ago and thought of as many things as I could that I'm grateful for. My shoulders dropped. I let out a sigh of relief. The muscles in my face relaxed.

That's powerful stuff.

So, I'll ask you what I asked myself that summer: What makes you happy? Close your eyes. Take a moment.

Your answer might surprise you.