Jake Pearson  00:00

Are you trying to figure out the secret to happiness, we're here what makes you happy with Jake Pearson, we want to make that happiness more accessible for you in your life. So stick around as we interview everyday people, inspirational leaders and your favorite celebrities on what makes them happy.

Welcome back to the podcast where we ask the simple question, what makes you happy? 

My name is Jake Pearson. And today we have with us a Life Balance Coach and the author of the book Life Balance. Paul Croswell, from New Jersey, USA. Paul, thanks for coming on the podcast.

Paul Croswell 00:42

Thanks so much for having me. It's a real pleasure to be here.

Jake Pearson  00:45

Absolutely. It's a pleasure to have you here. How are you, first and foremost?

Paul Croswell 00:48

I'm doing really well, man! I'm just in a really good place right now. So I think this is very appropriate.

Jake Pearson  00:54

So thank you for coming on the podcast, we're going to dive into a little bit about what makes you happy in the life. Can you start with that for us?

Paul Croswell 01:03

It's been a journey. But at this point in my life, honestly, I think the thing that makes me most happy right now is watching people embrace their purpose. More specifically discover and embrace their purpose. It's such a beautiful thing. I mean it from people of all ages, you see the spark light up inside of them. And I don't know, I can't explain it. But that right there makes me so happy

Jake Pearson  01:28

I, in a way understand what you feel. When you see other people start to have things click the way you've had things click for you. It's like a sense of pride. Maybe?

Paul Croswell 01:38

There's a sense of pride. And I think selfishly, there's a sense of almost legacy. Now, like, you've helped to not just shaped their life, you know, in a positive future for their life. But you've helped to shape really almost the future of their little corner of the world. Because as they embrace their purpose, they're going to now live that out in a community in an environment where they're interacting with other people. And it's going to make a massive difference. You know, because they're experiencing life so differently, with so much more happiness, that it's hard for that not to be contagious.

Jake Pearson  02:19

I really love that. What would you say to our listeners then to these people, who in our audience who are struggling to find happiness in their own lives? What would your advice be to these people right now?

Paul Croswell 02:35

I think the biggest advice that I got that was very helpful to me. And yes, I think that the advice I give the most right now, whenever I'm helping someone to find happiness is to slow down enough to get to know yourself. You have to get to know yourself, you can't care for someone you don't know. And that includes you. So if you haven't spent the time trying to figure out who you are, how you're wired, mentally, emotionally, what are your gifts, your talents, your strengths, spend time investing and figuring that stuff out. And the more you get to know that the more natural it'll be for you to care for yourself well, and when you care for yourself while you position yourself to live a very happy and fulfilling life. 

Jake Pearson  03:23

‘Care for yourself’. Well, I love that phrase. And I have not here heard a lot of people phrase it that way. You know, look after yourself- self-care, but care for yourself. Well, it rolls really nicely off the tongue, doesn't it? 

Paul Croswell 03:36

Oh yes, definitely. I love it. 

Jake Pearson  03:39

Yes, and you've written a book as well, haven't you? 

Paul Croswell 03:43

Yes. Basically on the topic of self-care, but leaning more so through the lens of life balance and what it means to have a healthy life balance and navigate life from that place of inner peace and clarity. So your personal life, your family life, your social life and your career life, and allowing that peace, that balance to influence everything you do. 

Jake Pearson  04:08

I have a good question for you. And I know a lot of people are going to resonate with this and I want to ask this question to you too, because I too have experienced trying to figure out what my strengths weaknesses are and knowing myself, well, where do you suggest someone starts with that? Is there a basic activity you can do? Is it journaling prompts you can follow, what's the plan?

Paul Croswell 04:28

Well, there are two different routes that you can take that out suggest if you want to invest zero money at all in the process. There are two very simple things you can do; 

One, make a list of maybe three to six people who you believe really know you well. And I mean, these are these are folks who, you know, they know you and schedule time with them, over coffee or something over dinner, and have a list of questions prepared for them. Ask them about you. It'll feel a little weird, but it'll be so revealing. Because there are things that as you talk to them, they'll say, you know, man, I think you're so talented at this. And I think you're so creative. And you're sitting there like, I would have never labeled myself as creative or talented in this regard. But it's something they see so clearly that you just can't see without their help. And if you want to take a little step further, I think the Myers&Briggs test is 16personalities.com, you can go ahead and take that, and it's actually very helpful if you buy your full personality profile. I mean, they have about 100 pages of content on your personality. So I mean, they give you a free summary. But if you want the full profile, you do have to pay for it. But it is really, really in depth.

Jake Pearson  05:56

That it sounds like something I personally will need to lean into as well. And I love what you've said there just before we close out this podcast about asking the closest six people because I did this recently, I was in a bit of a weird spot with my-- not my mental health, but just my like you know, when you started to feel stagnant after a while. And I was at a party with my friends. I’m like, I'm going to ask every single person what they think my strength is one strength, my greatest strength. And I wrote them all down in my phone notes. And it was just so refreshing to hear, I’m like [phonetic 06:30] you know, I see these in myself. But sometimes your judgment gets clouded. And it's so great to see these people that have known me for 10 years plus, all have sort of similar answers to what I thought I knew about myself. But yes, and it was really empowering for me, it really just reaffirmed what I kind of knew. So even if you're someone who is kind of sure of themselves and a little bit confident, but you're not sometimes sure what direction you're heading. Just asking those closest friends is a great way. Yes, seriously that's probably one of the favorite pieces of advice that I've ever heard on this podcast. So, Paul, thank you so much for coming on the podcast and sharing all things that make you happy.

Paul Croswell 07:12

Thank you so much for having me. This was a lot of fun. 

Jake Pearson  07:15

Yes, super fun. And if you'd love to connect with Paul find out more about his book Life Balance, you can do so in the podcast episode description below. Paul, it's been an absolute pleasure. 

Thanks for listening to the podcast. We hope it gives you something to think about on your quest to discover what makes you happy. Make sure to check out whatmakesyouhappypodcast.com to connect with today's guest and follow us on all our social media platforms, and to stay up to date on what's happening next and what makes you happy. Don't forget to share this episode with a friend and we'll see you next time!