6 happiness lessons from…the circus

6 happiness lessons from…the circus

While on holiday recently, attending and speaking at www.woodfordfolkfestival.com, I watched, among many other great acts, a circus show (a few times, actually!). I love the circus, for so many reasons, and I also think it makes for a great metaphor for living a life with happiness and success and passion and joy. Here are a few happiness lessons I learned during my recent circus watching…

  • be clear about who you are and what your role is. Everyone has a role in the circus, often a very specific one, and although it often looks like chaos when the show is working well it runs like a well oiled machine. What’s your role in life?
  • have fun but look after yourself. As noted above, most circus shows look like a bunch of misfits playing around but what they do, although looking easy, often requires remarkable skill, strength and sometimes endurance. If you want a happy life make sure you also live a healthy life.
  • think the best and make for a better world. The circus, as far as I’m concerned, is partly about escapism (literally for some entertainers) but it’s also about imagining what our “real lives” might be like with a bit of fun. Practice hope and think about a better future…how much happiness and success could you really have in your life if only you focused just that bit more on what’s really important?
  • Do your job well but don’t be afraid to rely on others. Each member of the circus has his/her own important role to play but each person also, often, helps out others. The circus is the ultimate team effort with different skills and talents complimenting others. Who can you help and who relies on you for happiness at home and/or at work?
  • And following along from a few of the aforementioned points…know your strengths and use them fully. The circus is a great example of how weaknesses are rarely considered but strengths are utilised as much as possible. So many of us could do this so much better. What are you great at and how can you do more of it?
  • And finally, don’t forget to have fun. Again, most circus acts require great skill and hard work but without the play and fun and “silly bits” you just get acrobatics and that’s nowhere near as enjoyable to watch. Do what you need to do and do it well but for real happiness in this life, take some time to play as well!

So that’s it. Happiness really is all around us and lessons can be learned from all sorts of people and places…even, not that surprisingly, the circus!