So three things occurred this week that happened to spark this blog entry on creating and harnessing this “happiness” that we all seek:

1. A conversation with my boyfriend on centering yourself for happiness
2. A chance opportunity to sit in on and participate in a content creation session for a new publication
3. Starting Seth Godin’s “The Dip”

After having numerous conversations over the past few weeks with many colleagues and friends, “The Dip” has been on everyone’s tongue ever since Seth Godin came to speak in Phoenix about a month ago. A colleague of mine gifted me a copy and personally, I had been avoiding it up until now fearing that it would be a downer since I clearly am not in a dip (and by no means do I mean this in any conceited or condescending matter, seriously) since I spent all of 2006 in “the dip” and boy was it rewarding.

So, that is what had sparked this conversation. I haven’t yet finished “The Dip” so I can only comment on what I have read thus far. But mostly, I want to tie all three of these occurrences into one cohesive thought…I’ll do my best to avoid the stream of consciousness.

The general consensus seems to be that everyone “just wants to be happy.” And everyone is in pursuit of this happiness. But the bottom line is – happiness does not come to you. You have to go to it. This meeting that I was in earlier this week about coming up with content ideas started out with an interview session to break the ice with the other individuals in the room. One of the questions was, “What accomplishment (personally or professionally) are you most proud of?”

My answer: “Making it through each day, making decisions based on what makes me happy and not what others expect of me or perceive of me.”

The next breakthrough, my conversation tonight with my boyfriend about finding yourself, getting through the clutter, the external forces that tie us to the “have to’s” instead of the “i want to’s”. This conversation forced me to recall the year of 2006 where many big life decisions were made in my life. Each one having made myself on my own accord. The key here is “these were big decisions.” But, another key here is…you’ve got to create your options to make those decisions. If you are waiting around for your life to evolve you’ll be dead before you get anywhere – make big decisions. Create choices for yourself, don’t let life dictate your next step. Stop telling yourself “no” to the things you would normally say no to. Try new things, break out of the things that make you comfortable. Wear a red shirt instead of the black and blue one you wear every day. A big decision is only a big decision if it makes you uncomfortable. If you fear it, then you will grow from it.

And hence, you are in “The Dip”, what will you do next? I will return to this topic as I continue to read Seth Godin’s “The Dip.” I welcome all comments and realizations to this conversation.