The Alphabet of Happiness: O

I hope you found yesterday’s post regarding Navigation to be helpful. If you just joined this journey, be sure to take the time to go back and read from the beginning. Without delay, let’s get to it and discuss the letter “O”.

Opportunity and Organization

Opportunity

Are you familiar with the American rap artist known as Eminem? He’s known for some rather negative, questionable, and foul-stricken lyrics. However, one of his biggest hits contains lyrics that talk about opportunity, which I especially like.

Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted
in one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip? …

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime …

You can do anything you set your mind to

Eminem – Lose Yourself Lyrics | MetroLyrics

This is a great description for the meaning of the word opportunity. An opportunity can be virtually anything. It might be an amount of time, a situation, a career advancement, a new way of thinking, a new home, an investment, a path or a road, travel plans, new friends, shopping trip, pursuit of higher education, a new hobby or just simply something you’ve never tried before.

The sky is the limit. Meaning there are an endless number of opportunities available to you. IF you are willing to take the time, you will find them. And so, when you find an opportunity, where do you go from there? Please refer back to the post regarding Navigation, as you determine the direction you wish to take and how to reach your destination (goal).

It’s important to remember a few things before you step forward towards your chosen opportunity. New situations, new actions, and new choices naturally bring about fear and anxiety. These feelings aren’t necessarily bad. They can be used as positive energy in your pursuit. Above all, remember to act with courage and determination.

Happiness awaits you, of that, I am sure!

Organization

What does organization have to do with happiness? A lot! Think about how you are personally affected by the chaos in your life. This might be represented by the physical contents in your home, stacks of papers and books at your work or home office, the objects strewn about the inside of your vehicle, and all other physical storage facilities and containers.

Think about this for a moment. How do you feel when you need to find something and you can’t find it? I know how I feel, frustrated and then angry and finally sad and dysphoric. Phew! Those are a lot of intense feelings to experience over one misplaced/lost item. Definitely, no happiness to be felt in those moments.

Now, how do you feel when someone asks you for something that you haven’t looked for in years and yet, you know EXACTLY where it is located? You move to the item’s location, as you have organized it, and you retrieve the wanted item. You feel great because you know where it’s located. The other person? Well, they’re thrilled because you took such good care of the item and they didn’t have to wait. It’s a win-win situation.

Getting organized in your life often seems like trying to climb to the peak of a mountain you cannot see. Is it really there? How far is it? Are others trying also? What if, what if, what if?

When you are able to de-clutter and organize your life, you are eliminating countless hours spent doing something you don’t want to do. Think about all of the other things you’d rather be doing with your time. Think about how much happier you will be if you don’t have to spend all of your time trying to find things and maneuver around unneeded stuff.

Get organized for peace of mind and good mental health. Please check out an especially informative and helpful article written by Mike Gardner, AKA The Time Doctor. The article is titled, Clear Your Clutter and Get Better Health. Mr. Gardner has written a fabulous series on getting organized and decluttering your life. He cites scientific evidence which proves that being organized leads to a more fulfilled and happier life. Check it out!

As we continue this journey together, I encourage you to keep reading. If you have yet to find your own how or why to happiness, I strongly believe you will. Please come back tomorrow as we explore the letter “P”.

©2017