The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything

9

The single greatest lesson we can learn from Home Alone

One of my favorite movies as a kid was Home Alone. We watched it on TV every Christmas. Kevin gets stranded in his mansion when his family flies to Paris for the Christmas holidays and he’s left to discover himself, fight off burglars, and make friends with the scary old man next door.

There’s a great scene near the end of the movie when Kevin is talking to that old man. The old man confides that he’s fallen out of touch with his son. They’re not speaking. He thinks about him every Christmas but can’t pick up the phone. Why not? Why can’t he do it?

Confidence and motivation. He doesn’t think he can do and as a result he doesn’t want to do.

I mention this story because in that scene Kevin does a great job explaining what the potential downside is when we confront our fears head-on by just doing them.

KEVIN: I’ve always been afraid of our basement. It’s dark, there’s weird stuff down there, and it smells funny, that sort of thing. It’s bothered me for years.

OLD MAN: Basements are like that.

KEVIN: Then I made myself go down there to do some laundry and I found out it’s not so bad. All this time I’ve been worrying about it, but if you turn on the lights, it’s no big deal.

OLD MAN: What’s your point?

KEVIN: My point is you should call your son.

OLD MAN: What if he won’t talk to me?

KEVIN: At least you’ll know. Then you could stop worrying about it. And you won’t have to be afraid anymore.

What’s the worst thing that happens if you speak up at the company meeting? You fail miserably. But, as Kevin says, at least you know. Then you don’t have to be afraid anymore. And then you can try doing it again or do something else.

What are the chances of failing miserably?

Very low. The greatest leaders just try and try and try. They try. And then they try. And then they try some more. Sure, you will fail at some things. But you’ll keep moving. And more often you’ll succeed. Little wins turn into confidence and desire to try again, which leads to bigger wins.

You gain momentum.

What did comedian Steven Wright say about building momentum?

“I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done.”

In that quote, he’s describing that invisible butterfly feeling of forward progress we all get in our stomachs when we suddenly just start.

It is easier to act yourself into a new way of thinking than to think yourself into a new way of acting.

Now go forward.

Just do it.