#93 - How to Be Happy: It's Easier Than You Think

Hey there all you retirement-interested listeners out there, welcome to another episode of The Retirement Answer Man with yours truly, Roger Whitney. I’m so thankful you’re taking the time to listen today and want to do everything I can to make that investment of time worth your while. On this episode I have a great chat with the “Doctor of Happiness,” Dr. Sonja Lyubomirski. She has scientifically researched the issue of happiness and is going to give us some very interesting insights. I’m also going to debunk some financial jargon that you’ve probably heard, AND I’m going to introduce you again to the concept of SMART SPRINTS, simple tricks you can do that can rejuvenate or revitalize your retirement strategy. So grab a cup of your favorite beverage, a pen or pencil and something you can write on… because nothing I share is going to make a difference in your life unless you make a point of taking action on it!

What is a S.M.A.R.T. Sprint and how can you use it in life?

One of the things I’ve discovered, not just in my retirement planning practice but in all of life, is that long terms goals can become draining. I get that… the long haul is sometimes very...well...long. :) But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on goals that might take longer. You can break them up into what I call “S.M.A.R.T Sprints.” What’s a sprint? It’s something you focus on for a shorter period of time, and as you do so, you give it all you’ve got. You’ll be surprised how much a time of focused intensity can help you overcome some obstacles or set some new habits that will enable you to progress faster over time. Today I’m going to explain that topic a bit more clearly than I did last week and show you why these S.M.A.R.T. Sprints are a great idea.

Do you know the difference between various types of financial services people - and why it’s important?

Do you know how the various people who work in the financial services industry are paid? Do you know the legal standards they are under when it comes to how they do their job and how they relate to you? If you’re going to make decisions that you are confident is truly in your best interest, then you really need to know those difference and rules. So today, I’m filling you in on all of that so you can know the difference between someone who is trying to sell you a financial product and someone whose main job is to give you investment advice. You’re going to find some very practical tips in this section, so make sure you give this show a good listen.

Today’s S.M.A.R.T. Sprint is one we all need.

Today’s S.M.A.R.T. Sprint is a life oriented project, and after you hear what it is, you’re going to see why it’s such an important personal skill we all should develop. Here’s a little hint as to what I’m talking about… there’s an old quote and we’re not exactly sure who originally said it, but it’s value is unmistakable. Here’s the quote: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” That’s a very insightful statement that we can all relate to simply because we’ve had hard times in our lives when we fought our own hard battles that others knew nothing about. My challenge in today’s S.M.A.R.T. Sprint segment is one that I’m asking you to participate in… and to connect with me and other listeners on the Retirement Answer Man Facebook page to keep each other accountable. Are you up for the challenge?

Do you know what true happiness is?

Today’s episode makes me really, really happy! Why? Because Dr. Sonja Lyurbomirski did a great kindness to me by agreeing to be my guest on the show. She’s known as the “Happiness Doctor” because she’s done extensive research on the issue of personal happiness - and she’s got some great insights to share with us. In particular, I was eager to hear her thoughts on how planning toward important things such as retirement figure into our happiness quotient, and how we should be thinking about those things in light of her research findings regarding what truly makes people happy. Is that intriguing? It should be because it’s a great conversation, so be sure to listen.