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134 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2022 MORE THAN BUSY Dr. Silvia Belezza's research at Columbia Business School focuses on status signaling. Her research indicates that in cultures generally believing that upward mobility is possible (think America!), being busy is perceived as a symbol of status. Further, Belazza has found that the more a person believes that hard work is a contributing factor to upward social mobility, the more they link being busy to social status. Consider how "busy" has pervaded American culture. Even in the 1990s, status was depicted in advertising by images of relaxation and luxury. Marketing in the 21st century uses images of busy people — or things that make busy people more productive — to suggest status. Don't you want to exchange the finite time you have in this life for more than this current (and transient) symbol of status? Consider that question, especially given that the physiological consequences of overwork are well- documented: long-term negative impact on well-being, health and happiness. MORE THAN HAPPY So, is pursuing happiness the answer? Yes, in part. A multitude of studies show that even small changes SHANNON SAYS HOW TO BE TRULY 'MORE THAN' BY DR. SHANNON TERRELL GORDON D o you ever feel pressured to do just one more thing? Do you ever feel that people wear the adjective "busy" as a badge of honor? That, maybe, that's not so smart? Do you ever get to the end of the work day, week or year and think, "Have I exchanged this time in my life for anything that really matters?" I surely have. I offer these suggestions to create more personal peace and to find a purpose to be more than busy and more than happy. Find a purpose to be impactful and meaningful. to focus on positive things can build personal resilience and hope. These tiny changes to focus on the positives can kickstart a domino effect of optimism that helps a person to better deal with life. However, there's even more to life than happiness. A LIFE OF TRULY MORE THAN Dr. Roy Baumeister, a social psychologist, has spent his career exploring how we think about ourselves and why we feel and act the way we do. His research shows that happiness is more linked to a present-oriented perspective that focuses on satisfying personal needs and wants. However, happiness is largely irrelevant to meaningfulness. People who live lives of meaning, on the other hand, focus more on knowing themselves; expressing personal uniqueness; integrating their past, present and future; and adopting a more giving approach to life. To move to more than busy-ness, and even more than happiness, consider these questions and act accordingly. » What are the unique gifts and talents I have? » What am I doing when I feel most "in the zone"? » What's an issue or project that is bigger than me that I am really interested or I really care about? And why do I care about it? Here's a hint: Often, our passion comes out of our pain. You might have a passion for the arts because that's how you could best express yourself. You might have a passion for improving access to care because you've struggled to get an appointment for your child. You might care a lot about air quality because you have asthma. You might feel most mentally at ease when out in nature, so you care a lot about preserving green spaces. The possibilities are as unique as you are! » How can I use my gifts and talents to "move the needle" more positively about my passion? » How will I know my efforts are making a difference? How can I measure my impact? » How can I create the time to focus on giving my gifts to what really matters to me? Here's a hint: What am I going to eliminate to make space for this? » Who can I link with to help make those good things happen? » When will I take at least one step to shift away from being busy and toward greater meaning? » When will I take time to celebrate each small victory of that shift? Dr. Shannon Terrell Gordon leads Macon's River Edge Behavioral Health and River Edge Foundation. Shannon is a researcher, author, speaker and teacher to help each person live their best life and to help leaders make the most meaningful impact possible. Follow her on Instagram with #drshannonsays. Contact her at sgordon@river-edge.org. Your special interests, experiences, gifts and talents have uniquely prepared you with the potential to both enjoy your life and leave a legacy of impact and meaning. From today forward, you can choose more than the temporary American status of busy-ness. You can choose to invest the finite moments of your life toward meaning that truly matters to you and energizes your soul. It's so worth it. I promise!