We watched Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss on Peacock. He traveled the world trying to understand what makes people happy. One of the places he visited was Iceland. In 2023, it ranked number three on the happiness scale, right behind Finland and Denmark.
What makes people in Iceland happy? Turns out, critical to happiness is our ability and willingness to adapt. To be flexible instead of rigid…to believe that no matter what, everything will work itself out. Not that things will go back to the way they were or the way I want it to be. Not that it won’t be hard in the meantime or that it’s not what I signed up for. Just that things-will-work-out.
As it relates to happiness, ‘things will work out’ means: I’ll be happier if I go with the flow. Because this…whatever is in front of me…is what the flow looks like right now. There is no advantage to fighting it. Certainly no happiness in the struggle against it.
Also, it was apparent that in Iceland, failure does not carry a stigma. Failure happens, meaning things aren’t working out the way I want them to. And then there is simply the next thing. How wonderful is that? We have this awful habit of ranking and comparing and expecting to always be moving forward. We attach whole stories, messages and signs to something that feels like a failure. It’s just not necessary.
Here is a quote from my daily calendar by Ikkyu: If it rains, let it rain. If the wind blows, let it blow. Sometimes that’s really hard…because sometimes life is really hard. But the question is not…is life hard? The question is…do you want to be happy?
Hmmm.
Practicing.
Paula
