Happiness Through Chaos

I love this post from Starbucker over at Ramblings of a Glass Half Full called, Happiness Through Chaos, or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Daily Grind. Here's a snippet:

Only when I can quiet the cacophony down and take what I call a “100,000 foot” view (like now while I write this on a plane) do I realize that the very thing that puts me near this precipice also makes me happy.

Yes, I think many of us thrive in environments about which we may also complain or feel some struggle. I have said to myself that I look forward to slowing down, but if I am honest, I am wired to always have too much going on. I generate this situation, and as soon as things start to get normal, I generate more.

But we do need to be cognizant of how we are coping with our self-imposed stresses and situations and that's why I like this post a lot. We need to see the big picture - what are we doing, and does this work hold meaning and offer satisfaction? We need to take stock in how well we utilize our strengths. And we can benefit from building the skill of not taking ourselves - and all the little details of the day - too seriously.

Comments

[David Brewster]

This is a very good reminder on a number of levels.

First, it reminds us that, in the end, it is about choice. We don't always choose what happens to us, but we always choose how we respond. But sometimes we need to slow (or rise) so that we can be aware of this.

Second - and a good reminder for me, as I encourage people to look for the 'simple' - is that everyone is different. Some are busy and like to be; some are busy but would prefer not to be - and other combinations. But to each their own.

Finally, be careful about confusing 'busyness' with 'productivity'. A drawback of enjoying being busy is the potential to maintain busyness for busyness sake. This is even worse if you draw others - your staff, for example - into your busy world by, perhaps unconsciously, creating more work than is necessary.

[Wally Bock]

Many times in my working life I've had to do what my friend Karen Anderson used to call "weeding the garden," stopping to clear out the things that were choking off growth.

I love David's distinction between busyness and productivity, but I also think that life is about stress and recovery in endless cycles. I pray and meditate both for the rest and recovery but also because it helps me keep the important things at the center of my world.

Frank Zappa once said, "Loud and soft, that's entertainment." I'd say "Effort and recovery, that's life."

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yes, effort and recovery.. I really like that. I need to do more recovery...

[Terry Starbucker]

Thanks for the link and kind words about this post - it was one of those that just popped into my head while I was traveling, and it did indeed allow me to step back an take that "big picture", just when I needed it. Chalk another one up to blogging! All the best.

[Juno888]

I am wired to always have too much going on. I generate this situation, and as soon as things start to get normal, I generate more.