What could you give up to be happy?

I found this post on Facebook by Daily Good: News That Inspires called 15 things that you should give up to be happy.  All right I don't like the title because the word "should" makes me cringe, so maybe 16 things including using the word "should."  But the list isn't bad - check it out at  http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=232

It's along the lines of, "In your pursuit of happiness, occasionally stop and just be happy."  Meaning, what if "pursuing" happiness is as simple as appreciating what works, the existing beauty that already exists?  That stuff we chose to ignore at 12 so we could define ourselves by our misery and by complaining aloud, therefore think we're smarter?  Remember that time?  When someone's complaint brought your young mind an insight that hadn't occurred to it yet and you thought, "wow, he/she's really insightful!  I should notice and verbalize the negative, too!"  Well, I don't think we consciously made that step toward misery, but it virtually played a part in our current dissatisfaction and even fears.

So what things would lighten my load on the road to happiness if I were to give them up?  According to this blog, they are:

1. The need to be right
2. The need to be in control
3. Blaming
4. Negative Self-talk
5. Limiting Beliefs
6. Complaining (!!!)
7. The Luxury of Criticism
8. Need to Impress Others
9. Resistance to Change
10. Labels
11. Fears
12. Excuses
13. The Past
14. Attachment
15. Living up to others' expectations

That last one.  My husband recently went to an Organizational Development conference in DC and saw speaker Rick Maurer talk.  He has written many books about change and OD.  My husband came home with this quote:  "Nature doesn't predict, plan or try to be perfect. It survival of the good enough, not the fittest."  So those expectations we derive from others or what we think others' expectations are may not be nature's.  Doesn't it make sense then to live up to our own integrity?  The integration of our actions with our beliefs, standards and values?  Good enough?

I'd add to this list:

• Road Rage
• Judgement without a Decision to Justify its necessity
• Emphatic Imperatives (That color is the best.)
• Relinquishing Power to Others for No Reason

What about you?