28. Secrets to living a happy life (with Fiona Redding, The Happiness Hunter)

If you're looking for ways to increase your happiness, I encourage you to listen to this episode. 

Fiona Redding, founder of The Happiness Hunter and host of The Happiness Hunter Podcast, shares some valuable insights that can help you create a happier life for yourself. 

• What is happiness
  Happiness is "the feeling of being content and fulfilled". Happiness is not something that happens to us, but something that we create for ourselves.
  
  
• Why we find it so hard to stay in the present moment
  Our minds are constantly racing, thinking about the past or the future. This makes it difficult to be present and enjoy the moment.
  
  
• Our higher self, our lower self, and the role of the ego
  The higher self is our true essence, the part of us that is connected to love, joy, and peace. The lower self is the part of us that is driven by fear, anger, and ego.
  
  
• Why we need to accept and forgive past wrongs and hurts done to us.
  We can't move on with our lives if we're holding on to anger and resentment from the past. We forgive those who have hurt us, so that we can free ourselves from the pain of the past.
  
  
• We have a choice to not let our old stories define our present and our future
  We all have stories about ourselves that we tell ourselves. These stories can be limiting and keep us from living our best lives. Let's challenge our old stories and choose to create a new story for ourselves.
  
  
• The real reason we set goals is to become the kind of person who can achieve them
  When we set goals, we're not just setting out to achieve something, we're also setting out to change ourselves. The real reason we set goals is to become the kind of person who can achieve them.
  
  
• How upgrading our identity enables us to take new actions that align with our new identity
  When we upgrade our identity, we're essentially changing the way we see ourselves. This change in identity allows us to take new actions that are aligned with our new identity.
  
  
• The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
   Intrinsic motivation is when we do something because we enjoy it or because we believe in it. Extrinsic motivation is when we do something because we're trying to get something in return. Intrinsic motivation is the most powerful kind of motivation.
  
  
• How caring for ourselves makes it possible to care for others too
  We can't pour from an empty cup. Let's take care of ourselves so that we have the energy to care for others.
  
  
• How to have a conversation with our children when there is a communication breakdown
  Fiona shares some tips on how to have a conversation with our children when there is a communication breakdown. She says that it's important to listen to our children without judgment and to try to understand their perspective.
  
  
• How to make amends when relationships break down
  It's never too late to apologize and try to repair a relationship.
  
  
• How The Happiness Hunter walks started from the principle of reciprocity.
  The principle of reciprocity is the idea that we tend to be more generous and kind to others when we've been shown kindness ourselves.
  
  
• Her new book It Is Possible: what inspired it, where to get a copy, and why it’s not your usual self-help book.
  
  The book was inspired by Fiona's own journey to happiness. It's not your usual self-help book, because it's not about following a formula or a set of rules. Instead, the book is about learning to trust yourself and your own inner wisdom.
  
  
• How to create the life you want by accepting the present moment and thinking in te

This episode was edited by Aura House Productions