REVIEW: "The Happiness Factor" by Kirk Wilkinson

With a New Year normally come new resolutions based on what we would like to see accomplished for ourselves and others in the future. Indeed, as we listen to the news and think about the trials that so many are experiencing it is enough to bring you down and make you feel as though all hope is lost. Not so. We have only to look at the examples of those who have weathered difficult times and succeeded to see that in many instances we are the ones really limiting ourselves.

Take for instance Kirk Wilkinson. He has spent almost half his life trying to assist others in realizing the potential that they possess. He has released a powerful book called “The Happiness Factor: How to be Happy No Matter What!” and through it he shared not only his practical advice for others but showed his credentials to do so. You see, Kirk is not just someone who is talking about a subject without having any real experience with it. He has personally had to use the information to get through his own low points. He was abandoned at a young age by his mother and had to keep himself motivated while setting and reaching his won goals. Twice in his life he has battled cancer and not even that could destroy him. He now wants you to see that it is not what you have but who you are that makes or breaks you.

He writes: “If you are waiting for a new job before you can be happy, if you are waiting for Mr. or Mrs. Right to come into your life before you can be happy, if you are waiting for a wayward child to find his way before you can be happy, then you are missing the chance for peace and happiness in this very moment.” To me his point is we have to take advantage of the time we have right now. We have to make the most out of what we have in front of us because that time will never be ours again. It seems so simple, however, how easily we forget when things don’t go quite the way we would like.

In his book Kirk even addresses how his mother’s absence strengthened his resolve to do his best and not allow others to control his level of happiness. The Happiness Factor is more than just a book to make you feel good today. It is a guide to enjoying where you are and looking with anticipation and hope to the days ahead. I stopped making New Year’s resolutions some times ago. Now I make a daily resolve not to repeat the person I was but to work on the person I want to be. If all of us make that our goal I think we can be confident about the world we can create tomorrow.