Eddie Jaku, a 99 year old Holocaust survivor opens his heart and shares the fear and trauma he experienced during World War 2. One would believe that after exposure to such horrific human cruelty that the experience would be imprinted within you; forever shaping who you are and how you perceive the human life experience.
However, Eddie has flipped the script and in this TedTalk, he recounts his experiences and the powerful lessons he learned about the pursuit of happiness.
Isn’t it inspiring how Eddie has not let a traumatic past experience define who he is today? Instead, he uses his experience as a way to create a more fulfilling life for himself and others.
Life is unpredictable and as we’ve all experienced over the past year, it can change drastically in a moment’s notice. Life can also be insanely busy! So many of us experience the hustle and bustle of our go-go-go society; running from one thing to the next barely being able to catch our breath. With the constant bombardment of change, errands and stimulation amongst us, it can feel as though we have no control over the situations that happen to us. We can end up feeling overwhelmed, helpless and victims of our own lives. So how do we create happiness and abundance in a world that seems to be lacking?
Happiness (and health) are things we think happen to us, but Melissa and I would like to provide another perspective on this. These are two areas of wellbeing we all desire, but only about 1% of the population actually has it. Why?! The key is in the mind. We don’t get healthy or get happy, we create health and happiness.
While life can feel like it’s spinning out of control, it’s important to focus on what you CAN control. Factors you can control are choices such as the:
- People you surround yourself with
- Thoughts you think
- Love you give others and the planet
- Nourishment of your body
- Celebration of your body’s ability to move
- Gift of great quality sleep
- Connecting with nature
- Letting your skin soak up the sun
- Meaning you find in your career
How we view the world and what we create for ourselves dramatically impacts our physical, mental and emotional health and our happiness.
We’d love to hear from you, what is one happiness lesson from Eddie’s talk that you are going to implement starting today? Share with us on Facebook or Instagram!