{"id":439,"date":"2022-09-12T14:58:23","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T14:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flexiseq.com\/?p=439"},"modified":"2024-10-26T15:42:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-26T15:42:41","slug":"len-goodman-s-5-secrets-to-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flexiseq.com\/blogs\/blog\/len-goodman-s-5-secrets-to-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"Len Goodman’s 5 Secrets To Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Len Goodman is best known for his time as one of the judges on BBC\u2019s Strictly Come Dancing. Len always has a lovely turn of phrase to put a smile on anyone\u2019s face and his enthusiasm for life and staying active is nothing short of infectious. <\/em><\/p>\n We caught up with Len to find out what keeps him upbeat and his tips to a happy, fulfilling life. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n If there’s one thing that the past couple of years and lockdown in particular taught me, it was to appreciate the little things in life that make you happy. For a long time we couldn\u2019t see our loved ones, and my son and his kids live very close by to me so it was tough not being able to see them. So now, when I do get to see them I really cherish it. <\/p>\n The other day we had my son\u2019s family and my grandchildren over. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were all in the garden. And it was just perfect. Being able to look at what you have and be grateful for all those little things, be they friends, loved ones or anything that just puts a smile on your face – try to embrace those things and remember them when things get a bit tough.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n I\u2019ll let you in on a little secret; I was never the best in school. I was the most average student you could imagine, slap-bang in the middle of all the other children in my classes. The best of the worst and the worst of the best, that was me. I was average at football, I\u2019m average at golf, and you know what, I was a pretty average dancer. It doesn\u2019t matter what you\u2019ve done in life, or how you did it – what matters is being able to look back and say, with pride, \u201cI did that, and I did it well.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n Something I\u2019ve always taken great joy from in life is making other people happy. Happiness is always something you realise fully in retrospect. So if you look back on an evening out with someone or a nice meal with family and you think, we all laughed a lot, we all had a good time, then that forms a happy memory. Happiness often leads to happiness. If you make someone laugh or put a smile on their face then you feel happy as well. I came across a quote that was attributed to Mark Twain which said, \u201cThe two most important days in your life: the day you were born and the day you discover why.\u201d So I wrote that in my son\u2019s birthday card recently and said, \u201cI found out why the day you were born.\u201d Because having children, or anything you\u2019re passionate about is a reason for being here. It gives you purpose and that purpose can give you not only drive but happiness. <\/p>\n Seeing my son who is now a parent with my grandchildren gives me so much joy. So now my reason for being is to see them grow up, to see the people they become and hopefully they grow up to remember silly old grandad. That brings me happiness. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n Positive mental attitude might sound like a bit of a cliche but I really believe it to be true. In my 20s I worked for a company called CICA (Combined Insurance Company of America) selling accident insurance for shops. As an American company they had lots of ideas that really changed my whole attitude. \u2013<\/p>\n What makes you happy? How do you find ways to always #SayYesToLife? Let us know on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n Be Grateful For What You Have
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I feel very blessed because I\u2019ve led the most wonderful life. I might come across as grumpy old Len sometimes but believe me when I say, on the inside, I\u2019m almost always smiling. I look at my life and I think how fortunate I\u2019ve been. <\/p>\n\n \n Be Proud Of What You Have Achieved \n \n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
But what I realised I had was the gift of the gab. People liked to hear me talk, so when it came to teaching dance I made it fun, and when you\u2019re having fun you want to learn.
A lot of what I\u2019ve achieved in life has come much later than a lot of people. I didn\u2019t have my son until I was in my 40s. I didn\u2019t get on Strictly until I was in my 60s, so much has come late in life. I\u2019m still not sure why they picked me for Strictly Come Dancing but I\u2019m proud they did and it opened up so many doors including going over to America to do the US version of the show. <\/p>\n\n \n Happiness Is Infectious \n \n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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In the past I\u2019ve done some work with Age UK. I went to one of their events where people over a certain age could come along, get their hair done, have some tea and cakes and have a bit of a dance. It was lovely, seeing the smiles on their faces as I showed them a few steps and we all had a bit of a laugh together. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. I take huge pleasure in doing charity work like that. Often just a little thing like someone coming up to me in the supermarket and asking for a photo or an autograph, I always make the effort to do it because I know it makes them happy, and seeing that, well, it makes me happy as well. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n Find A Reason For Being\n \n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\n \n Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) \n \n <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
We would go to their workshops and they would gee you up with these great little phrases to get you motivated. Things like \u201cDo It Now\u201d and \u201cGet Up\u201d have really stuck with me. So when I\u2019m in bed in the morning and I think \u201coh I don\u2019t want to do this or that today\u201d that voice from my old job speaks up and says \u201cDo it now!\u201d and you know what? I do it. Keeping a positive outlook on life can really help you to be happy. <\/p>\n