The Case for Being Happy: Hacks, Yaks, and Tracks

This happy yak is actually trying to smile — Photo by Sanjay Hona on Unsplash

Happy wife, happy life.

Happy spouse, happy house.

Happy friend, happy trend.

If you have happy friends, the chances of you being happy too are as high as this yak (pictured above).

Hacks

In comedy, you often come across the hack: a person that is just going through the motions of comedic performance — it’s funny but not original, it’s simply just another mouse trap.

When I teach public speaking in college, I talk a lot about authenticity. Yes, there is a time and a place for hacks and if that is your thing, then you may go through the years achieving your life goals, muddling through work/sleep/eat/family/repeat — which is fine. Going through the motions can be perfectly acceptable.

We don’t all have to be innovative leaders, after all. As my social studies teacher in high school would say, “The world needs ditch diggers!”

You can be happy and be a hack, but life is more fun if you do something beyond going from A to B. So I argue to put a little bit of spice in your life.

Yaks

So you are the talker. Happy people tend to focus on the good and not so much the bad and the ugly. Human nature, though, is often when we like to talk about the bad, the conflict, and the drama.

Isn’t no news good news?

The yak might be negative and if you spew the bad to your friends and family, not only will you not likely be a happy person but your friends will get all that negative yak energy.

People look at a motivational speaker like Tony Robbins as a motivator, but he wouldn’t call himself that. He would say he likes to bring an energy to people. So if you are yakking a lot and the talk is not the most uplifting, it may be the opposite of a Tony Robbins.

Here’s a challenge:

Think of Tony Robbins as a verb.

If you can Tony Robbins a friend of yours, you will make their day. You will give them some energy they can use to have a better day at work or to be a better parent/spouse/human.

If you like to yak, you like to give energy. Just be careful about what type of energy you choose because yakking can be a superpower, or also it can bring someone to the dark side.

Tracks

You often hear the expression, “That tracks!”

You are the person that just goes along with it, agreeable, and adding nothing new.

Are you just going with the flow? Do you adhere to the team? Are you being consistent with prior information, not taking any risks or learning anything to provide to others?

What brings you joy in your life?

Being uncomfortable = growth, and I find that those that struggle through some phases of life go on to some great things, or at least a better mindset.

If you are unhappy because you haven’t achieved what you are meant to achieve in life, then you need to get away from the tracks and find the “You Path.”

A You Path is, for many, the missing ingredient in your story. You go through life and you feel just ok.

BUT: You need to write a novel, act in a play, or learn to break dance. You want to get good at jiu jitsu. Getting out of the tracks of life and into that special thing can take your happiness to a whole new level.

I love to write and talk about comedy. It gets me out of the tracks of normal day-to-day (I see a show, I hear a joke, I engage in comedic writing or a funny situation in the classroom) and then I will yak about it (good energy).

I strive to go against hackery because, in my view, life is short. We all know a normal day with normal people. When we come across authentic people doing interesting things, the opportunity for happiness is ten-fold and honestly, that’s a You Path I love to take.

1. Don’t just stay in the tracks.

2. Don’t be a hack.

3. Yak some good, positive energy.