Finding Happiness From Within with Carl from 1500days.com Episode 005

In this episode, Chris and Debbie sit down for a super real chat with Carl Jensen. Carl has just reached the official three-year mark of early retirement. They talk about:

• His advice for anyone close to retirement or recently retired
• Being a retired dad
• Stepping away from an achievement lifestyle
• The emotional side of early retirement
• Finding more happiness today through embracing uncertainty and planning less, “Find a way to love life every single day.”
• Learning to say no more often, so that he could say, “Hell, yes!”
• The importance of taking care of your finances so that your family can handle the unexpected
• His answers to his most common questions from readers and fans
• His bucket list and his anti bucket list
• Dinosaurs and T-shirts
• Much, much more 

They leave you with:

“If you google quotes about happiness, you’ll get thousands of results. It seems everyone has an opinion on it, someone named Unkown a little more than others.

I’d rather quote Carl. In our conversation, he said, “You have to find happiness from within. You can’t rely on your external circumstances.” He went on to acknowledge the importance of finding happiness in the everyday rather than wishing your days away in hopes of happiness at a future point.

It sounds like one of the best parts of early retirement for Carl, one way he finds happiness and gratitude every day, is the novelty of unplanned and unique days–the unexpected moments he can say yes to that he never dreamed he could.

For Carl, it’s a “No” unless it’s a, “Hell yes!” knowing his hell yes took getting clear about what was important to him and who he was without a W2 paycheck. It took separating his everyday purpose from his everyday job. What became clear from our conversation was that happiness was not a result of achievement or met goal, it was something that happened as a result of a change in mindset and clarity of values when it became the intentionality of his focus.

You know, Google found a couple of applicable quotes on happiness after all. 

‘We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.’ – Frederick Keonig

and

‘Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.’ – Thich Nhat Hanh

What is it you’re grateful for today? Let’s start there. What’s bringing a smile to your face and warmth to your heart? Begin there–acknowledge it, cultivate it, and grow more of it in your daily life. That’s where happiness can be found–today.

May you find moments of joy right now, friends. May you make time to look deep within your heart and soul, finding at least one, small bit to be grateful for. May that small piece of gratitude naturally begin to multiply and grow until your heart is so full it’s spilling over with gratitude leaving a trail like breadcrumbs you can pick up on your way toward the life you envision for yourself. Most importantly, may happiness begin to be an everyday practice for you that includes today, not just someday. Afterall, you’ve only got this ONE LIFE, go out and joyfully LIVE IT! today.”,