The McVay Report

August 2023 Issue 4

Welcome to our monthly newsletter, The McVay Report! We are Tom and Carli McVay, the co-founders of The McVay Group, and we are thrilled to have this opportunity to connect with you. As seasoned business, entrepreneurs with a passion for change, we will provide you solutions and strategies to grow you business and you as a professional everyday. Expect us to share our insights, knowledge and experience with you, while providing the resources needed to succeed. We encourage all of you to Live the McVay Group way!

Feature Article

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

"Three Principles for Finding Joy"

Happiness. It's a universal quest that threads through every human experience. Waking up each morning with a heart full of contentment, a soul brimming with fulfillment, and a mind at peace – that's the dream. Yet, the path to happiness is often obscured, demanding our active pursuit rather than simply stumbling upon it. How many of you out there are actively pursuing happiness?

Carli's Candid Conversation:

• In my role as a business coach, I've discovered that nurturing happiness in

  both personal and professional realms isn't just a luxury; it's a strategic necessity. A mindset cloaked in discontent leads to stagnation, whereas joy becomes the spark for creativity, motivation, and deeper connections. I fundamentally believe in Life Actualization, which is far more than that of just self. It is embracing the personal, professional, emotional, and spiritual aspects of my life in a far reaching, deep and meaningful way.

• When being intentional with such a process allows me to engage in self-discovery, growth, and fulfillment, with alignment to my actions and choices. It's me getting to be me i.e., my authentic self, without guilt, apologies, or any reservations. When my individual goals and inner potential are fully embraced, I am happy. I have self-love. I have reached Life Actualization. Then that moment passes, and I begin again.

Now Back to It

Years of working closely with clients have crystallized three fundamental principles that lay the groundwork for discovering and nurturing happiness:

1. Take Action: The Catalyst of Change

It's an all-too-common fallacy to assign external forces the power to orchestrate our discontent. We've all been there, trapped in the cycle of thought: "If only circumstances were different..." However, the truth is that our agency holds greater sway than we often acknowledge.

Personal Insight from Carli:

• There will always be something we feel like we want or need. There will always be someone who has those things, and it appears to come so easy to them. The truth is that each of us has the uniqueness required at every moment to get out of our mind and circumstances and move on to the next. I call it our next S-T-E-P to Purpose.

• Purpose = Strengths, Talents, Experiences, Passions

• So take a moment and reflect on everything that you are troubled with. Then take the S-T-E-P you need for that situation, just one step at a time.

   

A vivid example comes to mind: Sara, a client teetering on the edge of marital disillusionment. Sara didn't surrender to despair; instead, she embarked on a journey of deliberate actions. Regular date nights, affectionate notes, and heartfelt texts became her tools of transformation. As these seemingly simple actions unfurled, the embers of her relationship were reignited, fanning the flames of her happiness.

And then there's Frank, a disillusioned manager burdened by a disenchanted team. He seized the reins of change by mapping clear expectations, nurturing individual growth plans, and showering his team with well-deserved recognition. The dividends were astounding – his team's performance scaled unprecedented heights, and a symphony of fulfillment resonated through the workplace.

When unhappiness looms, interrogate it with the question: "What action can I take to rewrite this narrative?" Remember, even minor shifts in habits or perspectives can cascade into monumental waves of joy over time.

2. Practice Acceptance: The Dance with the Inevitable

Life's tapestry is woven with threads of unpredictable hues – job losses, illnesses, choices made by others. Resisting these threads only snarls the fabric of our existence.

Personal Insight from Carli:

• Every time something happens in my life that to many would appear to be a major struggle or negative event, I look up and say to myself, "God, I'm going to trust you. Apparently, the path I thought I was on or should be taking needs to end. You are opening this opportunity for me. I will go." If I didn't take that approach with faith, belief, or simply openness to change, many of the opportunities that life has brought me would likely have been missed.

Consider Brian, a father grappling with the abyss of teenage distance. He opted for acceptance, recognizing that this phase was but a chapter in his son's journey. Refusing to clamp down on control, Brian nurtured open lines of communication, allowing their relationship to navigate the turbulence unscathed.

Likewise, Sara, a professional confronting the icy wind of a hiring freeze, embraced economic realism. She channeled her energy into fortifying client bonds, emerging triumphant even amidst industry tempests.

Acceptance isn't defeat; it's a launchpad for adapting to the immutable and propelling forward with unwavering positivity.

3. Have Courage to Walk Away: The Liberation of Letting Go

In the crucible of our pursuit for happiness, sometimes the most potent elixir is the courage to release. Toxic jobs, suffocating relationships, stifling environments – these are the shackles that impede our march toward fulfillment.

Personal Insight from Carli:

• Very recently, I have released pieces of my life as I build this new one of a home, marriage, family, and business. Some may look in and not understand. It is not for them to understand. I like to say, "Travel light". This is a frame of mind everyone should have. There are people and things we must pick up for our current journey, and others that must be dropped off or permanently left behind. The time has come for a few of those with my journey. It is not bad or good; it just is. Having that courage has taken me years to work on and perfection will likely never happen, but doing it is most of the battle. You too should try it!

Enter Maria, who scripted a saga of liberation by breaking free from an abusive marriage. Today, her life sings with empowerment and independence.

Then there's James, who dared to shatter the chains of a toxic corporate culture. Opting to sculpt his destiny, he forged his own business, a labor of love bathed in authenticity. Though the path was strewn with financial hurdles, his heart brims with happiness, for he's sculpting his masterpiece in an environment he commandeers.

When happiness withers in the shadow of affliction, don the armor of courage and stride toward fresh pastures. The universe unfolds new opportunities when we dare to unfurl our wings and soar.

Happiness is the fruit of labor, but the labor is a labor of love. By seizing the reins through action, embracing life's unalterable facets with acceptance, and unshackling ourselves from joy-draining bonds, we mold our own destinies. A life steeped in joy and fulfillment – both personally and professionally – lies within our grasp.

As you reflect on these principles, ask yourself: "How can I breathe life into these ideas in my own narrative?" The journey to happiness is a shared voyage, and it unfurls from the depths of our beings. Join me in my daily journey to happiness!

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