You know you are on the right track in life when you become disinterested in looking back, and eager to take the next step.
Think about that for a moment, and ask yourself: What does my happiness feel like?
Over the years, Marc and I have asked you to join us in examining the relationship between happiness and hardship. Hardship feels easy to define – a season of financial struggle, a time of personal loss, a period of life marked by tragedies – as the source of ongoing frustration in our lives. But happiness? What exactly is the emotion we call happiness and why do we crave it so badly?
When trying to define happiness, it’s tempting to adopt the “I’ll know it when I see it” mindset. I have no doubt that you will – but Marc and I challenge you to dig a bit deeper. Take just a moment to write down 2–3 specific action steps that you know make you feel happy.
These are what I have written down. For me, my happiness comes from time spent with my loved ones and on the work I deem important. Spending quality, uninterrupted time with Marc and our son Mac brings me great joy. I also find that I am flush with happiness after I’ve conquered a long blog post or read a heartfelt email from a long-time reader.
But here’s the real secret to happiness: what makes me happy may not make you happy. Perhaps your true happiness comes in the silence of an afternoon of meditation, or maybe you find happiness at the end of a long hike up a mountain. Where you find joy is not as important as understanding how you find joy.
In some of our recent blog posts, Marc and I have pushed you to define the obstacles in your life – the struggles standing between you and happiness. Defining our obstacles gives them clarity, and it helps us chart the path to conquering them. The same holds true for happiness: in defining specific actions that drive our happiness, we learn to build those activities into our daily lives.
When we know how to get to happiness, we can be sure that we make it a regular part of our day.
Take time today to define happiness for yourself. If you’ve been making a habit of looking to others for what makes YOU happy, it’s time to give that up. I promise, doing so will make you happier almost instantly.
How do I know this is true? Well, let me ask you this: Have you ever met a happy person who regularly avoids responsibility, blames and points fingers and makes lots of excuses for their unsatisfying life? Me either. Happy people accept responsibility for how their lives unfold. They believe their own happiness is a byproduct of their own thinking, beliefs, attitudes, character and behavior.
You’ve really got to stop worrying so much about what others think. I may find happiness in my writing, but that doesn’t mean that you need to be a writer to be happy. Shut out all the judgmental and well-meaning voices, and listen to yourself only for a while. And don’t worry if your definition of happiness seems incomplete – embracing happiness is an ongoing process.
If you find yourself needing support in that process of embracing happiness, help is here. Today, with great excitement, Marc and I are pleased to announce the grand opening of Getting Back to Happy, a comprehensive online course designed to teach you about the scientifically proven factors that impact happiness. This course provides a detailed, step-by-step plan for improving your confidence, strengthening your approach to relationships, and learning constructive methods for dealing with conflict and adversity as you pursue your most important goals. We invite you to join the supportive Getting Back to Happy community as you learn to define happiness on your own terms.
We decided to create Getting Back to Happy because we wanted to provide even more value to YOU. Earlier this year, we reflected on how else we can help our readers delve deeper into the principles of happiness that propel positive change in all our lives. We searched for a fresh opportunity and found it by sorting through thousands of our blog’s comments and emails.
People like you send us messages every day asking for a more in-depth exploration into the topics we write about on our blog. We’re able to help some folks with this deeper dive through our one-on-one coaching, but that form of engagement is limited by only so many hours in the day.
We also receive a lot of encouragement to do live weekend seminars about the principles and rituals of happiness. That idea is very exciting, although with an infant son, we’re not quite ready for it yet. So, we decided to blend the concept of coaching with the concept of an event into a new, amazing, immersive experience for you.
We’ve come to appreciate that happiness is much more than just an emotion; it’s a path to growth and fulfillment. Overcoming daily struggles and life stresses isn’t easy. Action is necessary to reclaim the happiness you deserve. Action is required to realize your goals and dreams. Getting Back to Happy takes all of the proven principles we discuss on our blog and in our book, and provides a clear course of action to change your life.
If you’d like to be among the first to gain access, we want to offer you something special. As an early access member, when you enroll this week (offer ends on Nov. 8), you will also receive $1,900 in bonuses:
- Audio versions of all course lessons – so you can listen and learn on the go too. ($400 value)
- One hour of two-on-one Skype, FaceTime or phone coaching with both Marc and me – so we can help you with the course material, or any topic you like ($500 value).
- A full year of personalized email support by Marc and me (not outsourced to someone else) – to make sure you’re getting the daily support you need to create the life you deserve ($1,000 value).
Take advantage of this limited time, early access special HERE.
Honestly, Marc and I are so proud of this course. We filled it with our best advice – advice gathered from firsthand experience, nearly a decade of studying and writing about the psychology of happiness and success, and through coaching thousands of people just like you. From proven ways to foster stronger relationships, to actions engineered to help you let go of toxic behaviors, to scientifically proven methods of making progress on your personal and professional goals, the learning modules in this course will inspire and equip you to become your strongest, most effective self.
Getting Back to Happy is perfect for you if you identify with the following:
- Things have changed in my life and I don’t know where to go from here.
- I am committed to positive change, but I feel stuck.
- A relationship I am involved in has become toxic.
- My personal and professional growth has stalled and I want to feel excited about what I’m doing again, and make real, lasting progress.
- I am generally content with my life, but there is more I want to accomplish and I don’t want to become a victim of complacency.
The bottom line is that you CAN get yourself back on track. Inside Getting Back to Happy, you’ll discover what it takes to get back to a happier, simpler life worth celebrating. It all comes down to a choice – your choice. Positive change is possible, if you choose to step forward.
So what choice will you make?
If you choose to take control of your circumstances, then we’d love to welcome you into Getting Back to Happy. We hope you will take advantage of the valuable bonuses mentioned above and join us today.
Your turn…
When it comes to nurturing your own happiness, what gets in your way. Please leave a comment below and share your thoughts and insights with us.
And of course, if you have any questions about Getting Back to Happy, let us know and Marc and I will reply as soon as we can.
Photo by: Stefan Neuweger
Joe M. says
Hi Marc and Angel,
I just wanted to say a quick hello and let you know that I signed up for “Getting Back to Happy” this morning and I am so excited! I’ve already gone through the beginning of the first lesson, and it’s fantastic. My wife and I are excited to work on this together.
Gloria says
For the longest time, I was getting in my own way of my own happiness. But I’m thankful to say I’ve made huge strides in the right direction, by following the advice you have given me.
Your 1,000 Little Things book, your blog, and your coaching made a huge difference in my life. I finally had a courage to apply for a job somewhere else. I am glad to let you know that I passed the interview and I got a better offer compared to what I am being paid now.
Please keep up the good work of helping people like me to help themselves. You really gave me courage to stand up and make things happen for me instead of complaining and settling for less. I will look into your course, and perhaps enroll for the new year.
Donna Farrell says
Thank you for this. Every few days I am sure to read one of your posts or a few pages of your book. They really give me the extra strength to move forward and fight for my honest existence. I have made a habit of worrying too much about making others happy and not enough about making myself happy. Little by little though, I am paving the way for myself to embrace more happiness.
Oh, and congrats on the launch of your new course. I may need to save up, but I intend to enroll. Sounds like a gift I need to give myself.
Jarad Peltier says
Thanks for the great post.
Sometimes it is nice to have some sort of reminder like this. When working on trying to build a business or improve your financial situation times get hard and you do tend to lose focus of what is important or why your are actually putting all this hard work in in the first place. Taking time out to make sure you still do things that make you happy is SO important. I will be using your advice above and making sure I apply it daily. Also congratulations on the new course.
Justin from Extreme Health Radio says
Great tips. Happiness seems to be tied with time, freedom and relationships in the end and not as much with possessions or getting it from other people.
Denise M. says
I have been reading your blog for several months now and have enjoyed it… but I am a bit worried now that your last 3-4 posts have been a plug for a course that cost quite a bit of money. Once the push for this course is over, I hope you will continue to share inspiring articles like you always have.
Angel Chernoff says
@Denise M: Thank you so much for the kind words and for being a regular reader. “Getting Back to Happy” is set at its current price is because it’s not just a product/course, but also an open line of communication to Marc and me (i.e. it includes various forms of one-one-one coaching). “Getting Back to Happy” members get our daily attention and support whenever they need it.
The course itself took us 7+ months to pack full of proven, actionable methods for implementing the concepts we talk about online every week, but we also wanted to take it a step further and offer personalized support to our course members, so we can help them reach their goals in real time. And honestly, since there are only two of us, the only way to do that is to price in our time.
We typically charge $300 an hour for live one-on-one coaching, $500 an hour for two-on-one coaching, and $350 a month for weekly coaching and personal support via email. So when you factor in the phone, email and course discussion forum support we are providing for “Getting Back to Happy” members, you can begin to see our rationale for the price point – and you can begin to see that it’s being offered at a very discounted price.
As for promoting the course with our last few posts, the only way to get the word out there for those who are interested in “Getting Back to Happy”, is to put the word out there. So that’s what we did over the past 10 days.
With that said, Marc just wrote a brand new article that will be published this coming Sunday evening, and it does not contain a pitch for the course. And rest assured, there will be dozens of upcoming posts just like that one. 🙂
Ruby says
Hi!
I just wanted to say that I really liked this post–it was really inspiring. While reading it, I jotted down a bunch of things that make me feel happy or things that help me to feel happy, and it was a great exercise! Thanks!
Rose Costas says
Thanks for a wonderful article. It is never easy to find true happiness I find if I continue to focus on what I do not have. I am learning to understand that happiness doesn’t mean a smooth, stress free, uncomplicated life but a matter of choice.
Taking responsibility for ones own happiness and making the necessary changes to arrive at that place where one can be truly happy in spite of everything else.
Heather says
Congrats on the new course. I hope it’s successful for you, and I’ll be taking it when finances allow.
What’s keeping me from happy? The sudden death of my husband just as we were starting retirement, and the subsequent desertion by a dearly loved child. I now have no direction or purpose and am just existing. Your blogs and book have helped greatly, and I look forward to your continuing wisdom.
mohd alodat says
I have been reading your blog for few months and I got many great things out of it that have helped me to improve my way of living. I clap my hands for you from a distance. 🙂
Jo says
Even though I have been receiving these emails for 6 months, I’ve never stopped to take the time to respond. They are amazingly helpful! I’m generally a “happy” “well adjusted” person, but occasionally feel unfulfilled and/or disconnected. Over time, your words have become a part of my recall that has so very much helped to get to a better place emotionally. It seems that reading your tips written in different ways but conveying the same message certainly helps to imprint it to memory (recall). I am truly grateful to you both!
serenity pratt says
I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH. Thank you for being an inspiration in my life. I look forward to reading your articles every day. YOU ARE ALWAYS ON POINT! It’s like you know what I need to read exactly when I need it. Thank you.
Rhonda Rainey says
I so much appreciate your timely and insightful posts. I hope you will offer your new course again in the not-too-distant future. Now is not a good time for me, but l am most definitely interested. Meanwhile, as others have said, please keep the good words and positive thoughts coming our way. Thanks for all you do to make the world a better and happier place!
Abi says
Hi Marc and Angel
The course sounds right up my street. Could you tell me how long each lesson is? Also do you have to work through the lessons chronologically or can you dip in and out? The lessons – how demanding is the work? Obviously I know I have to work hard to improve, I am just wondering if I can fit this in with all my work at the moment. Sorry for all the boring and practical questions! Love your articles BTW! Thanks!
Angel Chernoff says
@Abi: “Getting Back to Happy” is a self-paced course – you can dip in and out whenever you like. It’s structured into 20 lessons that can we worked on one at a time, in any order you like. Each lesson has three parts (the core lesson which delivers important principles, a step-by-step actions section that can be worked on at your own pace, and a discussion section where Marc and I share our personal experiences regarding the lesson) Also of important note is that the discussion section for each lesson has a member forum where you can ask questions and communicate with us directly whenever you need assistance.
The work will not be too demanding, as long as you pace yourself. (i.e. take baby steps, but don’t stop stepping…start off by focusing on the course for 15 minutes every day).
As for how long the course will take to complete, that really depends on you. My thought process is to think of completing the course as a ritual (the action of spending 15 minutes every day) as opposed to a goal (completion date). If you do this, you will get incredible value from it every day, without stressing yourself out. 🙂
Oh, and thanks for the kind words too. We love hearing positive feedback from regular readers like you.
Michael Akinlabi says
A very insightful post. Enjoyed it!
I think happiness comes from within.
Happiness comes from doing what you like or enjoy.
Happiness comes from achieving your goals.
Happiness comes from knowing what made you fail the last time and doing things in a much different way, knowing you’re going to succeed next time you try.
Happiness comes from seeing others people’s lives changed because of what you did — your deeds.
And lastly. Happiness means different things to different people. But I believe your happiness is connected with your passions.
So what are you so passionate about?
Karl says
Awesome content again! How do you come up with your ideas? Personal experience or creativity?
-Karl
Paige Connard says
I have to say that I appreciate you taking the time to write & post this. But I’m going to be honest with you, because I’ve had not only my Wonderful Hubby “Chef Gerry” but several other family members & friends that have been there for me since I was in my coma that helped me to first know that I not only survive it, but grow healthy & strong again. And that they would continue to be here for me if I need them. So every morning I wake up happy to be alive, enjoying life & all of these wonderful family & friends who support me & provide help if I need it. But continue to work with me to grow stronger & healthier too! What more can I ask for? So NOTHING other than not having enough time to do many of the things I want & need to do makes me unhappy!
Also, congrats to you on your new course. Absolutely wonderful!
Captain Kirk says
Marc and Angel…
Thank you for your dedication and devotion to open the minds and soften the hearts of your audience (our community). Getting Back to Happy will serve as our fuel to generate a forward thrust in our journey (our flight) to happiness.
My universal view is that happiness can be achieved by satisfying our fundamental human needs (our human blueprint):
🙂 Physical
🙂 Mental
🙂 Emotional
🙂 Spiritual
My lifetime path to happiness, joy, and fulfillment includes all of these components – in proper balance – and practiced every day.
Of course, happiness is a work-in-progress that must be defined, nurtured, refined, and practiced every day. Flying on the wings of happiness requires diligent and courageous determination, high maintenance, and ferocious faith.
Really, the joy and fulfillment ingredients are realized by satisfying the yearning and burning emotions in our heart. Joy flows from the heart and is reflected in our eyes, and in our free-spirited personality.
This happiness, joy, and fulfillment project has been a lifelong endeavor, and requires a a burning fire and passionate desire.
And finally, some words of wisdom from my personal collection:
“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.”
— Benjamin Disraeli
Take action……..and passionately pursue the prize of HAPPINESS in your life 🙂
Angel Chernoff says
@Michael Akinlabi: Love the question you ended with. I am passionate about helping others be their best. 🙂
@Paige Connard: Thanks for sharing a piece of your story with us. Sounds like you have a wonderful support system. Best of luck to you.
@Captain Kirk: Love your sentiment. Couldn’t agree more. Thanks for continuing to provide value to the community here.
Elizabeth says
“So what are you so passionate about?”
Excellent question, Michael Akinlabi!
My passion right now is being mindful, and gathering the funds for this course on happiness.
Marc and Angel, thank you so much for this course.
I know it will be exactly right for me, and I am so
excited to start. (Have to wait to get the money together).
Having experienced a change of heart when reading your articles, my gut tells me “Getting Back to Happy” is exactly what I need to to get a solid grasp on my happiness.
Namaste to you (Marc and Angel with Mac) and all those whose contributions have helped me change my attitude to my day, my week, my month.
Not only do I now believe in happiness, I believe I can be happy. Yes!
Barbara says
Hello Angel,
First off, thanks a billion for such an amazing post. Well, answering to you- where my happiness comes from:
Generally, I feel unhappy if I don’t work, if I procrastinate, if I don’t care myself, if don’t care my family, if I mislead myself.
And I have only one thing that drives me to the happiness I wanted- is working hard. I find my value, inner peace and satisfaction when I work.
But I still believe, happiness comes from mind and some acts that tell my mind that — produce more endorphin–
Thank you 🙂
Shawn says
Angel,
I really enjoyed this post. It took me a long time to accept what made me happy. I wanted to be someone else and when I couldn’t accept who I already was, I was unhappy. Now, I love the fact that I enjoy sitting alone with a cup of tea reading a book (I don’t have to be “stoked” to go on an exotic trip, just because other people are.)
-Shawn
Lizzo says
Shawn, as a fellow reader, I can only give you a great big YAAAAAAY!!
We are each so different. I used to read because it took me out of my own life for a while. Now I read less than I used to, but still more than average. And i’m far from Happy for much of the time, but I’m getting back into following my dreams, and trying not to rely on others’ approval for my wellbeing and confidence. It’s hard to undo a lifetime of thinking that most others’ opinion of me is right.. Not giving up now. The road goes ever on.
pratiush says
nice one!
Michael Gregory II says
Hello Angel,
Very insightful article. I really enjoyed the section that dealt with making small improvements to achieve happiness. Many people assume that happiness is something they could achieve immediately and keep forever once they find the right “key”. But happiness goes deeper than that.