Review Fix chats with writer and life coach “The Happiness Warrior” Eric North, who discusses how to stay happy during the holiday season.
About Eric North:
Eric North thinks he has a genetic disposition to set things right – and regardless of what’s going on in your day-to-day, no matter how fraught and anxious 2023 may have been for you, he wants to help you do something that, once taken to heart, will change your life. He wants you to give yourself permission to be happy. After years of entrepreneurial success with two thriving Washington DC-based businesses dedicated to life-changing therapies, he’s found new purpose and passion leading people to the next level in their emotional and spiritual lives as “The Happiness Warrior.”
As we see on his recently launched Instagram page TheWarriorMode, Eric is “forging a new path in a changing world.” He’s done it on the platform before, gaining a massive following on the platform for his @50redfined page, which he created in 2014, the year he turned the big 5-0. By posting pictures of his ultra-fit body (which keeps his modeling agent in NYC busy) and motivational videos, he helped change the minds of thousands about aging and showcased an alternative to just “getting old.” Driven by his long-held theory that “every seven years, we go through a positive, momentum-shifting upheaval in our lives,” the lifestyle visionary is now expanding, rebranding and building momentum as a force for leading others to finding personal happiness in an increasingly negative world.
Review Fix: What are some sure-fire ways people can stay happier during the holidays?
North: A sure way to beat holiday blues is to realize that not everyone has the same experience, resources, or social network. Loneliness is the biggest issue that many people face, and the holidays tend to amplify these feelings. This can be overcome by realizing that happiness comes from within without external validation. With this mindset, we can focus on what makes us happier and more readily appreciate the small things in life that give us joy. Try doing this every day and make it healthy life-affirming habit year-round. Take it a step further and share this feeling of inner happiness with others.
Review Fix: Is it natural for people to be sadder as the days get shorter and colder?
North: Yes, it is natural to miss the longer days and brighter sunlight. I think much of this is inherited in our DNA when winter is meant starvation and deprivation. Today, we have so much to appreciate and be grateful for due to technology and science. Focusing on how good we have it is a great way to beat the winter blues!
Review Fix: What were your biggest struggles during 2023 and how did you surpass them?
North: I have a defined set of core values that I use every day in my actions and decision-making. Each obstacle is an opportunity to learn and do better the next time. The truth is that without challenges we might feel safer, but our lives will have less meaning and fulfillment.
Review Fix: What advice do you have for people struggling emotionally at the end of the year?
North: The first step is to identify why we’re unhappy and state the problem aloud. This makes our hurts seem smaller and easier to compartmentalize. Each small step creates a larger path and helps us gather momentum to meet each new problem with self-awareness and clarity. This is a sure way to create more happiness and less self-created negative emotions.
Review Fix: How important is diet when it comes to emotional happiness?
North: The first thing is to replace the word diet with the word nutrition and think about how important it is to fuel our body and mind with the right foods for our needs. The trick is to learn to listen to our bodies and ask ourselves what we need to consume to feel energetic and healthy. I know it’s an unpopular opinion but is there any real benefit to masking our self-created negative emotions with “comfort food”?
Review Fix: What are your goals for 2024?
North: Continue to create more Happiness Warriors and promote the work that I do through coaching and public speaking engagements. Please check out my new website which was released this week for a lot more information, published columns, and video content: www.thwarrior.com
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
North: I think too many of us focus too much I what we desire rather than expressing gratitude for what we do have. No one is better than anyone else and there’s no benefit or lasting validation when we put too much emphasis on material things rather than what’s inside. In the end all that matters is how much good we’ve done with our lives.
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