When I first started my coaching business, I had a very challenging client.  It didn’t matter what method or approach I tried, she remained stuck.  Finally I asked her a question that I had never thought to ask before – “Do you want to be happy?”  Her response…”I don’t know…”

As it turns out, this would not be the last time I heard this answer from a client.  It doesn’t surprise me anymore like it did the first time I heard “I don’t know” and I have almost come to expect this answer when I pose the ‘happy’ question.

Do you want to be happy?  If you’re not sure, that’s okay.  As odd as this may sound, it turns out that happiness can be kind of scary.  What is there to be scared about, you may be wondering?  Well, for many of you there is an idea that if you are happy, it won’t last so the fear is that your happiness will be taken away from you.  For others there is the idea that you can’t be happy because other people are struggling or coping with challenges so the fear is that you will upset other people by being happy. There is also the realization that you don’t know what happiness looks like or feels like for you and so you are afraid that you may never find what makes you truly happy.

These are such tender situations and the first thing to remember is to treat yourself gently when ever you are dealing with any fears.  The second thing to remember is that you don’t have to figure everything out all at once…you can take small steps towards happiness and before you know it, you will have developed the confidence and trust to live a truly happy and joyful life.  And if you would like some more tips and guidance to get you on the path to happiness, you might want to join me for my presentation called Lighten Up – Putting Joy Back in the Mix!  Whatever you choose to do, my heartfelt wish is that you be happy!