Finding the Secret to Happiness, by Richard Branson

Watch this short clip, and come back, will ya?

When my girlfriend Debbie showed me this short clip last night, it brought genuine smiles, joy, a little bit tears of inspiration.

But mostly inspiration.

Not just what Sir Branson said, but also how different people define their secret to happiness. A child’s, a teen’s, a woman’s and a man’s answer, can all be different, and that’s perfectly fine. Whatever makes us happy may not apply for others. Vise versa.

Heck, even if we look at ourselves through our years growing up, our definition of happiness would surely have evolved. From the sight of our parents coming to our cribs, to that soft, cool ice-cream on a hot summer day, to our first crush’s first words to us, to the day we got into that university of our dreams, to getting that dream job, dream car, dream house, dream spouse. Yup, happiness to us pretty much change from year to year, time to time, circumstances to circumstances.

So I asked myself, if Richard was to sit me down across him, and ask me what is the secret of my happiness, what would my answer be?

Well, let me be the first to tell you, it’s gonna be hard to answer. Not because I don’t have an answer, but probably because I have so many.

I would tell Richard about the times I would sit on the beach of Legian, Bali, looking at the sunset. I would tell him how the world seemed to stand still, and yet, I know it’s moving, progressing, advancing somewhere. Perhaps it’s the sense of me being ok with that (that the world is moving and I’m just observing), which gave me the sense of happiness.

Thus, happiness is in the now.

I would also tell Richard about the times I had great conversations and connections with my loved ones, namely Debbie and Will, my 9 year old. Just exchanging views, even though it could be on opposite sides, and having that banter, that debate, that’s internally satisfying, somewhat.

Thus, happiness is in meaningful connections.

I would then tell Richard of the times when I learn something new, when I’m excited to share it with the world, or apply it in my life and for others’ around me, or when I’m able to stimulate the same “ah-ha” moment in others. Perhaps it’s the teacher in me, the one that came along having seen my mom doing it previously for so many years, that gives me that sense of fulfilment.

Thus, happiness is in the contributed growth.

It is then that I probably would realise, even for me, there are more than one secret to my happiness. Not that it’s evolving, but it’s simultaneous, parallel, inline. Which also means I have more choices to make myself happier, and that I’m not dead set on just one secret, one method, one way.

So, what is your secret(s) to happiness?

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