Happiness leads to success a lot more often than success leads to happiness. 

That’s a great sound bite, but why is it true?  Well, here are three reasons that happiness leads to success, not the other way around. 

1.      The better you feel, the better the stories you tell yourself about your life. (“I’m really capable,” instead of “I can’t seem to do anything right.”)

2.      The better the stories you tell yourself  about your life, the easier it is to do what’s right for you.

3.      The more you do what’s right for you, the more success you create and the better you feel. 

So far everything sounds pretty self evident, doesn’t it?  But the sticking point is the first one.  How do you feel better?  After all, it feels like your moods just show up, right?  I’d like you to do a little experiment (below). Take 30 seconds on each step in both halves of the experiment. 

►First, think really, really hard about some things that upset you. 

►Second, talk about them in sad or  angry words. 

►Third, tighten or purse your lips, hunch your shoulders and shift your gaze toward the floor.  You can cry if you want to. 

How do you feel? 

The other half of the experiment is this.

►First, think really, really hard about some things that delight and please you. 

►Second, talk about them in an excited, happy voice.  You can giggle if you want to. 

►Third, smile, put your shoulders back and sit or stand up straight and shift your gaze straight out or upwards. 

Now, how do you feel? 

Those bad feelings or down moods do not sneak up on you.  They are the result of how you think, how you talk to yourself, and even your body language.  You have a choice at any moment of your life.  And you become what you practice.  What are you practicing right now? 

Happiness leads to success a lot more often that success leads to happiness.

Ellie  http://beyondthesidewalk.com