674 words of content including 13 Principles for Happiness. Approximate reading time: 2.69 minutes. And isn't your Happiness worth it?

This newsletter speaks to Leadership, Happiness, and Coaching in your life and work.

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1. The 13 Principles of Happiness, Redux
2. Press Room: See you at NOHRC
3. The Executive Happiness Coach®

A few weeks ago I delivered one of my core talks, “Five Prescriptions for Living and Leading in a Turbulent World” to an enthusiastic audience. One of the participants approached me after the program to say, “Jim, I’ve been a subscriber for over a year, and I’ve never read anything about these 13 Principles of Happiness that you refer to in the handout. Can I learn more?”

Her request led me to review my archives. About 18 months ago, a minor format change deleted a longstanding link from my template, so nearly 1/3 of my subscribers have never seen reference to this essential document around which I launched this newsletter.

I have to fix that! This month we revisit the principles that started it all (see below for a link to a pdf version):

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1. Become Positively Self-ish
When you take care of yourself first, you build a foundation for stronger relationships with others, increase your capacity, and reduce doubt.

2. Live Your Values
Clearly identify and proclaim your personal values through the way you live and work. You are more likely to spot opportunities when you know what they look like.

3. Live for Life, not Stuff
Let go of possessions, roles, lifestyles that others and a marketing-hyped society impose on you; focus instead on what truly brings you Joy.

4. Be Early
Whether it is project deadlines, appointments, or learning opportunities, get there before you are expected, and watch your stress load decrease exponentially.

5. Build Reserves
Identify what worries you, and work to create extra in your life, whether that is money, personal space, or extra toilet paper in the cabinet.

6. Tolerate Nothing
Continually identify and eliminate all the little “stuff” which causes you friction and drains your energy.

7. Choose to Respond
What happens is going to happen, regardless. Accept constant, discontinuous change as reality and instead of reacting, respond with curiosity.

8. Stimulate Your Development
Surround yourself with environments and people that continually challenge you, energize you, and literally pull you forward. Have adventures.

9. Pay Attention
When we are on auto-pilot, life just happens around us. Look. Listen. Notice. The sunset in your own backyard can be just as wondrous as the one at the beach.

10. Simplify
Automate, delegate, or eliminate tasks or goals that complicate your life. Being content with simpler pleasures increases your opportunity for awe.

11. Speak the Truth
Stop playing games. Recognize that though the truth may sometimes sting, it is the starting place for all progress. Challenge others to see the truth.

12. Focus on Today
Waiting for something to happen “tomorrow” in order for you to be happy is like watching yourself in the mirror and saying “You go first.”

13. Be Authentic
Be yourself, not somebody else.

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Happiness is a Decision, not an Event.
How will you choose today?

A common theme in my writing is Practice. To become a better leader or coach, you must practice the skills of conversation, listening, letting go, and many more. To live a happier life, you must exercise the positive emotional “muscles” such as gratitude, joy, mercy, forgiveness, optimism, zest, calm, contentment, and many more. And Happiness, of course!

The 13 Principles offer you tangible practices that encourage that muscle-building and make it easier for you to make the choice to be happy, right now.

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The 13 Principles of Happiness will remind you, every day, of things you can start, stop, and do more of to live a healthier, happier life. Download a copy today and post it on your cubicle wall or fridge at home. Think happy.

P.S. I really should get all Sales-Pitchy on you and tell you to buy a copy of my book, which is written about The 13 Principles. But I’m currently working with an editor to revise it. When the second edition goes to print, I’ll let you know!

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I am proud to be speaking at the 50th Anniversary of the Northern Ohio Human Resources Conference on March 11 in Cleveland. 20 years ago I was the program chair for this same conference and I am reprising a theme from that year: maybe it’s time to Blow Up HR (as we’re currently doing it). I created a short preview of my talk, which you can view here.

If you are an HR Professional attending the program, I look forward to seeing you there! You can register at http://www.NOHRC.org

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The Executive Happiness Coach® is a global provider of Executive Coaching and mentoring services. With clients in 27 countries and six continents, my passion is to help build a Happier world and workplace, one Leader at a time.

Want more Happiness, Leadership, and Coaching conversations in your life? Contact me today.

If you received this from a friend, SUBSCRIBE now to get your own copy in the future, and get a valuable leadership report!

All things Happiness Coach:

                       

View past editions at http://www.TheExecutiveHappinessCoach.com/resources/archives/.

Copyright © 2016, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution:
"From HAPPINESS@TheSPEEDofLIFE, by Jim Smith, PCC, The Executive Happiness Coach®. For more tips on Leading with Happiness, visit www.TheExecutiveHappinessCoach.com."

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