Are you satisfied?

(for a popular post here on happiness, check this out!)

Gallup released its US satisfaction poll showing only 19% of our fellow citizens are satisfied with the direction of the country-hence the above headline…..

The reasons for this are probably very different for many.

Are You:

• Out of a job-you are probably unhappy with everything!
• Having personal problems such as debt load, trouble paying bills-you are probably unhappy!
• Having work stress-during tough economies most of us are doing more at work with less! Going home tired and unhappy!
• Worried about our countries debt load, and spending problems and how it will affect your children and grandchildren!

Other than voting for those you think will improve the countries’ direction, what can WE do to improve our attitude?

• Get involved-those that are active in their community are much more likely to feel in control.
• Shrink your life-get rid of a few of your responsibilities.  No you still have to work, but are there things you are doing that maybe don’t have to be done.

Now you may be saying-”how can I become active in my community and decrease my responsibilities?” “That is contradictory isn’t it?”

No, I don’t think so.

How You Spend Your Time

Think about how you spend your time:

• Are you on the road on your days off taking your kids to 8 different programs/activities?
• Are you spending your time working overtime, cause you have to pay for all your toys? Car payment, boat payment, big-screen TV payment, 300 channel cable, iTunes bill, the latest game system for the kids….The list goes on!
• Are you on committees at church, clubs, neighborhood organizations that meet, but maybe don’t really add value to your life?
• Are you so unhappy with your job, you make yourself and all those around you miserable?
• Are you so tired at the end of the day, because you are so out of shape, routine activities wear you and your too large bottom out?
• Do you think you could do a better job fixing your city, county, countries’ problems than your elected officials???

Out of Control

We tend to be most stressed when we feel things are “out of control”!

How to Get control:

• Take a few hours with your partner or just yourself if you are single, and think!
• Think about what is most important for you and your family.
• Think about where you would like to be next year and 5 years from now.
• Write these things down, and begin making steps in that direction.
• Don’t worry that you can’t do it all today-where you are in your life took years to reach-changing direction may be like changing the direction of a huge ship.  But those ship captains know they have to make adjustments waaaaaay before they get to their destination!  And i promise you they are focused on what they are doing.  Otherwise they hit other ships, bridges, and stuff!
  

  by anders b.

If the direction of the country is the most important thing on your list, then get involved.

If the direction of your career is the most important thing on your list, then decide what you need to do to change it.

If the direction your children are taking is the most important thing on your list-maybe you need to decide where the problem is…

Is it you?

It is soo easy just to sit back and answer a poll question-Yes I am unhappy with the direction of our country.  But remember, the country is just a lot of you and me’s.  You may not be able to change the unemployment rate, the debt ceiling, or the way our leaders act.

But you are the leader of you!  You can take control of you and make your life better!

If each of us make that commitment to ourselves for the next full year-that Gallup poll result will be a lot different next year!

So is the US of A going to hell????

Only if we let it!

Reader comments:

Your thoughts about our country and it’s direction are welcome here…. Let me know what you think?  What are you and your family doing this year to make your life better???