Ben Altadonna on Chiropractic, Life, and Happiness.
Happiness is like beauty; it’s in the eyes of the beholder.
You have to have it within and you have to always be on the lookout for it.
Like everything, in order for happiness to grow, you must focus on it.
I think some people are born happy and others have to work at it.
The later describes me. I’m reasonably happy but I have to work at it.
So if you are like me, here’s some things that I believe have made it easier for me to be a lot happier (and a lot more successful in business!):
A LITTLE LESS AMBITIOUS – In the last 5 years, I’ve created a simpler business model for myself and for members of ChiroTrust; one that maximizes happiness because money without free time is meaningless. It’s all about balance. Once you achieve balance, then practicing becomes a whole lot easier, scalable, and profitable. That’s right, less ambition often times creates a bigger and better business! Why? I think it’s because you end up focusing more in the present and on the process and not just the desired end result.
FIRST CREATE HAPPINESS IN THE HOME – No amount of practice or business success can compensate for failure in the home.
DO SOMETHING NON-WORK RELATED TO DO EACH DAY THAT I ENJOY – Like taking a friend out to lunch, reading a non-business related book, playing the guitar, discovering a new hobby or resurrecting an old one.
ALWAYS HAVING SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO; BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM – For me it’s finding some land to someday build a farmhouse on. I spend probably 2-3 hours a week online exploring possibilities. It’s fun and although It may never happen, I enjoy the process. Another one is planning this summer’s vacation.
ALWAYS HELP (NOT ENABLE) THOSE LESS FORTUNATE – Helping those less fortunate gets you out of your own head, wants, and needs. It nurtures gratitude and increases happiness. Personally, I prefer teaching others how to fish so to speak. Throwing money and things at people rarely creates long lasting change.
CHANGE THE RULES – Do you really need a big house, expensive car, fancy clothes, jewelry and toys to be happy? If so, you probably will never be happy. Why? Because there is always someone else with bigger, better, more.
Play your own game. Keep your world small. Mind your own store. Pay less attention on what others are doing. Why do most rich people hold fond memories of simpler times?…Because they were a lot happier, healthier, and less busy. That’s why. ChiroTrust is all about creating a scalable happy practice without the stress, overhead, and overwork.
