Weekly: You can do both
Are you passionate about The New Happy? Do you want to make the world a happier place? Do you want to help get the word out about our book?
If so, I'd love to invite you to join our book Launch Team!
The Launch Team is a group of people who believe in New Happy and want to share it with the people in their lives. Over the next six weeks, we'll be building excitement about the book and spreading happiness around the world.
Launch Team members will get a host of exclusive experiences, including the chance to read the book before it comes out (!!!) small group gatherings with me, and a ton of exclusive content.
There are limited spots available so please sign up here if you're interested! I can't wait to launch this book to the world with you.
With love,
Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy
This Week
Old Happy: "There's no hope for the future because of the past."
New Happy: “I can honor the pain of the past and feel hope for the future—at the same time."
We all have dreams for our lives. And life has a way of foiling those.
Losing your job. Going through a heartbreak. Navigating an illness. Getting what you want and realizing it's not what you want. Experiencing the death of a loved one. Hearing difficult news.
In these moments, where life disrupts life, we have to hold on to two truths at the same time.
We can grieve what we hoped for. We can allow ourselves to feel our sorrow, anger, fear, envy, and frustration. We can process those emotions through talking, writing, creating, movement, and other forms of expression. We can connect with others who know what it feels like or those who can hold our hands as we walk this road.
And at the same time, we can make the life we have a beautiful one. We can wake up and choose one different action. We can celebrate the moments of good we have, no matter how small they are. We can make something meaningful out of what we do have, one day at a time.
For all of those who are staring down a life that looks very different than what you had hoped, please remember this: you don't have to choose either/or. You can do both.
Tips and Tools
1. A good life — This week's animation.
2. Remember who you are — Discover your true self.
3. How to be confident — You build it.
4. Wait it out — When you feel a strong emotion.
5. The power of your words — Label your feelings.
More from TNH
Book — Preorder New Happy today and discover the real secrets of happiness.
Podcast — Get a daily morning pep talk — in five minutes or less
Speaking — Book us to speak to your team about well-being, resilience, and productivity.
Articles — Read more articles on our website.
Community
When you were going through a hard time, what did people do that helped? What do you wish people had done?
“Give space, validate, and honor that what I was going through was indeed hard or complex and it makes sense to feel the way I was feeling. Hold no judgement if I was at times distant or less responsive.”
“Listening empathetically without judgment and without the need to provide advice. That sort of coming alongside has always made me feel seen and loved during tough moments.”
“Listened and accepted me for who I was at the time, rather than trying to “fix it” for me.”
“Validated my feelings and sat with me in silence.”
Inspiration
1. The best advice I've heard in ages (CupofJo) — This is a real gem.
2. They were bitter rivals. Then one of them needed a kidney. (Washington Post) — Moved by this story that shows our ability to change and capacity for love.
3. A 104-year-old recalls Vermont's solar eclipse of 1932 (Guardian) — Lovely story, and lovely to see so many people finding awe in nature this week.
Before You Go
No spam, just joy.
