643-How to Address Happiness Outside of Societal Norms

Living outside the traditional norms of society can make it challenging to talk about happiness. Today we address that concern with four ideas. 

 

Transcript:

 

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in about 2 minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins® (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life. 

 

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat, and today I was reading a thoughtful piece from Very Well Mind about modern femininity and how it can be stressful to talk about happiness. As we know, society tends to emphasize the traditional milestones of life. I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrases of “getting married, the house with the white picket fence, and having 2.5 kids.” While that is great for some people, including myself, it doesn’t leave much room for women to step outside the box and be celebrated for alternative accomplishments.

Of course, getting married, buying a house, and having a baby is lovely. But we accomplish so many things throughout our lives that deserve the same recognition, support, and celebration that, sadly, go underappreciated.

For example, one of my team members told me about a time when they were talking with her boyfriend’s dad about her business success when he switched the topic to when he could expect to have a grandchild…yikes! These kinds of situations can make it very stressful and debilitating for anyone.

Therefore, I encourage you to do four things.

First, reaffirm your own path. If you are not living a traditional lifestyle, that’s perfectly okay and likely exciting! Take a moment every now and then to reaffirm why this path is the right path for you. I encourage you to stay honest with yourself and connected with your goals and passions.

Second, talk to people about your priorities. People don’t know what they don’t know. They may think what you are doing is just a chapter in your life when it is really the plot of the whole book. It is unlikely they are being malicious, but they don’t truly understand your goals. I encourage you to talk to them about your passions and priorities. Be honest and tell them you are hesitant to share good news because it doesn’t fit the status quo. It could open a path to greater understanding, even if it doesn’t change their minds or beliefs entirely. I also suggest finding like-minded friends who may have a greater understanding and maybe even insight into your goals.

Third, confront your own societal biases and be an open channel for happiness. I encourage you to be curious about other people’s lives and goals, never assuming they will follow a traditional path or your path either. Leave accomplishment questions open and vague so they can fill in the blank freely, whether it is buying a new car, paying off credit card debt, or renting an apartment.

Fourth, remember that kindness is contagious. Even if you don’t understand someone’s choices, I encourage you to celebrate their successes and support their happiness. Even just being a listening ear can go a long way. 

And, let’s connect on social at @everydayhappinesswithkatie  and join the community on the hashtags #IntentionalMargins and #everydayhappinesswithkatie on Instagram

 

Links:  https://onamission.bio/everydayhappiness/