Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 148 - The Happiest Moments in Life Come From Making Someone Else Happy


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 3	Issue 148
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THE HAPPIEST MOMENTS IN LIFE COME FROM MAKING SOMEONE ELSE HAPPY This favorite quote of Coach Wooden's reflects a key idea he was constantly trying to share. Many of the quotes he referred to were inspired by the simple idea: Help Others that he was taught by his father through example and his seven point creed. Here are some of Coach Wooden’s favorite quotes on this topic: Real happiness begins where selfishness ends. You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone without a thought of repayment. Be more concerned with what you can do for others than what others can do for you. You’ll be surprised at the results. It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself. Be more concerned with loving than being loved, giving than receiving, being a friend than having a friend. Once when Coach Wooden was asked how he would like to be remembered, he replied: As a person who was considerate of others. The following is a list of synonyms for the word considerate: attentive, thoughtful, mindful, obliging, accommodating, helpful, cooperative, patient, kind, unselfish, compassionate, sympathetic, caring, charitable, altruistic, generous, polite, sensitive, tactful Coach acted toward others with all these qualities. The wisdom that he learned and tried to share with us was that being considerate was not a burden or obligation to him, but rather it made him very happy to do it. On the numerous occasions when Coach Wooden sat and signed autographs for hours until the last person had been accommodated, he didn’t feel burdened. He was deriving happiness from making others happy. The recognition of the fact that happy moments come from making someone else happy seems like common sense when we think about it in the context of making a child happy: whether it is a parent at a birthday party or a volunteer coaching a youth sports team. When we are involved in adult relationships or in business attempting to acquire more material wealth, it can be puzzling to understand why although we are acquiring more material wealth we are not happy. The solution is found in this very simple idea: The happiest moments in life come from making someone else happy. If we can slow down in the middle of the rat race and take the time to make someone else happy, the smile in our heart and on our face will reappear. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Twitter: @woodenswisdom	COACH'S Favorite Poetry AND PROSE She Was a Phantom of Delight She was a Phantom of delight When first she gleamed upon my sight; A lovely Apparition, sent To be a moment's ornament; Her eyes as stars of Twilight fair; Like Twilight's, too, her dusky hair; But all things else about her drawn From May-time and the cheerful Dawn; A dancing Shape, an Image gay, To haunt, to startle, and way-lay. I saw her upon nearer view, A Spirit, yet a Woman too! Her household motions light and free, And steps of virgin-liberty; A countenance in which did meet Sweet records, promises as sweet; A Creature not too bright or good For human nature's daily food; For transient sorrows, simple wiles, Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles. And now I see with eye serene The very pulse of the machine; A Being breathing thoughtful breath, A Traveller between life and death; The reason firm, the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill; A perfect Woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command; And yet a Spirit still, and bright With something of angelic light. William Wordsworth
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