Happiness need not be a mysterious, elusive condition. The chart above demonstrates that happiness can result from a holistic approach to life and that success can be achieved by working simultaneously on foundational elements or "Limbs" Love, Health, Freedom and Purpose.
The Happiness Tree is a way of visualizing the anatomy of happiness as one would view a family tree, to understand how each component is related to the whole. Just as science has mapped the human genome to understand the very code that supports life itself, it stands to reason that Happiness (a condition so fundamental to the human experience that it is synonymous with “quality of life”) can also be broken down into its elemental parts and then reassembled into a system for understanding and creating a successful life.
It took me 3 years of introspection, deconstructing my own struggles with sustaining satisfaction in my work, relationships and life, coupled with research into the many emotional, physical and spiritual factors that influence how we view, respond to and evolve from our life experiences, to arrive at this deep understanding of the ways in which we, and our life experiences, co-create each other.
It turns out how those experiences are guided, crafted and responded to is of critical importance to our personal evolution and level of satisfaction.
This led me to the realization that the four limbs of Love, Health, Freedom and Purpose could be viewed as the robust structural members of our lives, like the columns of a cathedral, the piers of a bridge or in this case, the limbs of a tree. I chose a tree because it is a living, evolving entity that is rooted to the ground and yet reaches for the clouds. A quality I believe represents the need-in our human lives-for a healthy balance between being grounded, (through our need for security and stability) and being aspirational, through the boundless force of our imagination.
Additionally, like human life, a tree has a complex structure, reaching in many directions, with an intricate interplay between major and finite elements. With the trunk defining our core, I could see that limbs and branches could perfectly represent and illustrate the many ways our desire for Love, Health. Freedom and Purpose are expressed and experienced in our lives.
Finally, the Canopy, composed of leaves, the most delicate components of a tree, reach out to receive sunlight. They are kissed by the rain and cooled by the breeze. They provide nutrients for and are simultaneously supported by the whole system. It is through these thousands of delicate wonders that we-as humans-metaphorically connect with the world around us.
And just aa a tree must be properly fed, pruned and cared for, our lives also require ongoing maintenance and attention. And a healthy tree, just like your healthy life, develops a well-rounded Canopy: balanced, comfortable in its niche and a joy to behold.
Please feel free to copy and save the Happiness Tree chart to study and share.
And for a complete description of how to understand and apply this revolutionary system in your own life, read "The Happiness Tree". Now available in paperback and e-book format from all fine online book retailers.
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