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

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“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

That’s the power of being you. That’s the feeling you get following your heart.

It’s not always comfortable at the beginning, but it’s always comfortable at the end.

Marilyn Monroe said, “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

Mother Teresa said, “Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent, anyway.”

The Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland asked, “Have I gone mad?” and Alice responded, “I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But let me tell you a secret: All the best people usually are.”

Be you.

Be you and be cool with it.

Love your tics and nicks and loves and scratches and fears and passions.

Knowing them leads to living them, and living them leads to loving them.

Your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship in your life.

Settling in to your true, weird, authentic self isn’t easy, but it’s the most satisfying way to have everything.

Let’s talk about why.

So many burned-out C-level execs and financial wonders and professional speakers I’ve spoken to are exhausted coming to work every day . . . pretending to be someone they’re not. They think: The pay is so good it’s worth taking the role and acting the part. But any misalignment between what you’re doing and what you want to do allows a dull and invisible unhappiness to fester. Confusion sets into the heart and mind about values. That brain jam—also called cognitive dissonance—isn’t just exhausting. It’s dangerous. Why? Because your unique sense of self is at risk of being drowned.

Your unique sense of self that was formed by long summer days and starry twilight dreams and tent conversations and first jobs with great teams—it’s at risk of being buried under sandy, windswept layers of cultural expectations. You risk forgetting who you are.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

But it’s not easy.

So why should you aim for it?

Take it from Gandhi. He knew a lot about happiness. He espoused wanting nothing, doing anything, and having everything for himself and his country.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

Say it again, Gandhi.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

That’s the destination with authenticity. Total alignment of thoughts, words, and actions. Your arms and legs and brain all snapping together with a loud plastic click. Like the cover on the remote control. Snap!

Being you leads to happiness.

But how do we get there?