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Life with HIM ❤️

For my third book for this year, I read Sha Nacino's Mission Happiness: The Millennial's Guide to a Happy, Inspired, and Meaningful Life.

 

 Like most (if not all) of Sha's books, Mission Happiness is an easy read. In fact, I think one can finish it in one sitting. In my case, it took me a week because I did not just read the book but went through the action steps as well (though I think I need to do more introspection).  

So the book has 9 chapters, and an epilogue. As usual, I'm sharing my key takeaways from the book. It's been said that the best way to retain a learning is to share it. So here goes my list:


1. Be purposeful. Dr. Didoy Lubaton also mentioned about this in his book Whole Again. If we only do things just for the sake of doing them, then life would not have much meaning. Eventually, we'll get tired and burned out without really having a sense of fulfillment. As humans, we search for meaning, we aim for significance, and we are not living life to the fullest if we're not doing what we're meant to do. We need to discover, pursue, and live our purpose. Everything starts with and should be aligned to it. Here's a simple but powerful tip on how to discover your life purpose (also from the book, which according to the author, she first learned from Bo Sanchez):

Answer these questions:

  • What is your passion (something you love to do and that you do best)?
  • How can you give value to other people through your passion?
  • What is the result you want to achieve?

Then you can formulate your purpose this way: My purpose is to (what you will do based on your passions - something that has value to other people) through (your passions) in order to (the result you want to achieve). 


2. Be passionate. Since your purpose is rooted in your passion, you cannot NOT be passionate. The ideal path is to eventually make your passion your profession. Then you're living the life! Remember that your passion is something you love to do and you do best. Therefore, it's something you won't get tired of doing, and something you can monetize (because it's something of value). Think about that one thing (or maybe two) that you really care about, and you don't mind doing for the rest of your life. Hone it. Earn from it. Keep pursuing it. 


3. Dare to dream. And dream big dreams. But don't stop with a dream. Take actions to make that dream happen. Believe that it will happen. Do what you can, and leave the rest to God. 
4. Maintain an attitude of gratitude. In everything, give thanks, for it is the will of God. Also, gratitude makes you focus on your blessings, and as they say, what you focus on grows. Focus on your blessings and you'll attract more blessings. On a personal note, being grateful makes me happy. Reflecting on God's goodness and faithfulness gives me a high and makes me appreciate and see life's beauty despite it's imperfections. 


5. Stay healthy. Let's keep this short and sweet: health is wealth. You are your greatest asset. And in order to maximize your full potential, you need to be healthy - physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, even financially. 


6. Build and deepen relationships. I've read somewhere that the quality of your relationships defines the quality of your life. Your relationships make or break you.  If you want to stay healthy and live a life of purpose and meaning, keep your relationships strong and unbreakable. It's true that love (the right kind that is) keeps us alive. So choose life. Choose love. 


7. Keep learning. Cardinal Newman once said that growth is the evidence of life. And you grow by learning. Don't be satisfied with what you know now. Time will come when it will be obsolete. You have to stay relevant by learning as much as you can. There's unlimited possibilities. You just need to know how to unlock them by learning the right skills and using the proper tools. 


8. Be a good steward. We don't own anything. We are mere stewards. And the way to honor God is to show Him how grateful we are for the blessings He entrusted to us. That is, by being good and faithful stewards. It's been said time and again that it's not really much about what we have but what we do with what we have. Are we putting them into good use? Are we blessing others? Or are we wasting our resources mindlessly knowing that God's graces never run out and that He will always provide? 


9. Serve humbly. This was also mentioned in the Go Negosyo Women 2020 Entrepreneurship Summit. If you want to become rich and live a life of abundance, live a life of service. Serve first and money will follow. 


10. Love yourself. This is basic. You cannot give what you do not have. So in order for you to love and serve others, you need to love yourself first. It's not being selfish. Rather, it's making yourself more capable to share the love and mercy of God to the people you encounter. If you feel loved and cared for, you will naturally radiate happiness, and in effect, you'll also get to spread happiness. Tessa Prieto-Valdes said that everything we do ripples. Start loving yourself so you can love others better. 


In John 10:10, Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 


Let me end by sharing one of the first statements in the book: "We are fully alive if we live Happy, Inspired and Meaningful lives. We are fully alive when we have HIM in our lives." 

Be fully alive. Live happy, inspired, and meaningful lives with the ultimate source of happiness, inspiration, and meaning - HIM. ❤️


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