Posts Tagged ‘Limitations’

Apparently there are many ways to measure happiness within countries. But it seems that there’s one country that rises to the top no matter which system is used. In a recent New York Times article, Nicholas D. Kristof tells us that the results are in and there is a clear winner. Care to take a guess? Would you like a hint? It’s a Latin American country. Give up? Well, the World Database of Happiness puts Costa Rica in the top spot out of 148 nations.

Costa Ricans were asked to rate their own happiness on a scale of 1 to 10 and the result was an average of 8.5. Just an FYI – the United States ranks 20th at 7.4.

Another calculation determines “happy life years.” Read the rest of this entry »

I’m always wondering and observing…I ask a lot of questions. For instance, why are some people unhappy even though they are labeled “successful”? From the outside looking in, they appear to have it all – significant income, material possessions, fame – but they’re not happy. Then there are also those that seem to have that certain “something”. Everything they touch turns out perfectly – their relationships, children, health, work, homes, etc.? Why does “everything” work for some, and for others, “nothing” works?

Or, have you ever wondered why two people can have basically the same opportunities, but one is miserable while the other is happy? The pursuit of happiness is the focus of living.

Would you not agree that happiness is the true definition of success (see Success…What’s Your Definition)? I believe truly successful people Read the rest of this entry »

Any process that requires thinking also requires some creativity. Got a complex problem? Looking for a creative solution? Where do you turn?
Your first choice is to turn to the “experts”, right? Experts need to specialize. They focus on specific areas so they can be as effective as possible. This reduces the time needed to solve problems. However, they may have difficulty seeing the big picture because they are unable to stretch their thinking beyond this “area of expertise”. Experts may miss obvious solutions. They may force the solution to come from within their area of expertise. Abraham Maslow said, “To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail.”

The experts may not always be the best individuals to turn to for guidance. Here’s an alternative…regular people, the non-experts. Talk to people outside the area of question. You might talk to the mailman, your neighbor or Aunt Sally. Look for someone that doesn’t know the rules; someone that doesn’t know what isn’t possible.

Regular people don’t know what the limitations are. They don’t know how things are “supposed” to be. Experts may take those limits for granted. Non-experts provide out of the box thinking…because to them there is no box.

Creative ideas require someone who knows less. These ordinary people probably won’t solve your intricate problem but they may provide a suggestion that starts you thinking in a new way so you can solve the problem yourself. The idea might come from your son’s best friend or the yoga instructor.

You just have to be open to it…and go get it. Allow the gardener or the janitor to assist you in having a Better Day!