Jared Akers

How to Be Happy

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Join Jared and Emily Akers as they talk about life, love, happiness, and respect for oneself and our partners in life. They explore many topics from life, love,
relationships, self-respect, travel, and keys to living a happy life; all from personal experience. Through Jared’s personal blog - How to Be Happy: Happiness for the Practical Mind - they receive questions about living a happy life from people all over the world. Through sharing their personal experience they humbly demonstrate how self-respect, authenticity, and love are vital components of living a happy life regardless of circumstances.

Have a question or comment for our podcast? Send a voice message!

 

HTBH 006: Is Happiness Really a Choice?

by Jared Akers

http://traffic.libsyn.com/howtobehappy/HTBH006-IsHappinessReallyAChoice.mp3

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new life old life choiceYou hear a lot of people suggest that happiness is a choice. Is it really that simple? Emily and I take a closer look at this ideology and some of the obstacles that may prevent us from simply making a choice to be happy.

Some topics discussed in this episode:

Simply making a choice to be happy isn’t always that easy. There are many things, such as past experiences that make it difficult to believe that we can be happy. Many times we have so much crap running around in our heads (fear, guilt, remorse, etc.) that it’s not possible to just dismiss those things and be happy.

I share about my journey in finding my authentic self and how that led to find what was missing; a love and emotional connectedness with self. Emily points out that being okay with self first, enables us to try new things in life knowing we’re not always going to succeed, but that’s the beauty, being able to try many things. Once we begin to be happy with self, we’re then capable to make the choice to be happy. [Read more…]

HTBH 005: Managing Expectations

by Jared Akers

http://traffic.libsyn.com/howtobehappy/HTBH005-ManagingExpectations.mp3

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how to be happy podcastIn this session of the How to Be Happy Podcast, Emily and I sit down to discuss managing expectations. Everything comes back to being happy with who you are and willing to accept life on life’s terms.

“Wearing life like a loose garment.”

“Expectations are resentments in training.”

“Today’s expectations are tomorrow’s resentments.”

Some topics you’ll hear in this episode: [Read more…]

HTBH 004: Coping with Death

by Jared Akers

http://traffic.libsyn.com/howtobehappy/HTBH004-CopingWithDeath.mp3

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how to be happy podcastIn this episode of the How to Be Happy Podcast, Emily and I discuss death. But before you make a decision on how morbid this sounds, have a listen.

Some topics you’ll hear in this episode:

Dealing with Death

  • What to say to others then they’ve experienced a loss.
  • We share about our personal experiences with death of loved ones.
  • The reality of facing our own mortality.
  • Although tragic, death can also be beautiful
  • Does everything happen for a reason?
  • Is there anything on your bucket list?

Being of service

  • Thinking about what you can bring to a situation/relationship as opposed to what’s in it for me?

Groundhog Day? (yes we talk about the weather)

Reminding ourselves to stay in the moment, even when looking forward to something in the future.

We get back to the topic of death and about allowing people to reach out to you when you’re going through something difficult.

Things mentioned in this episode:

  • The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

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You can call our How to Be Happy phone line and leave a question or topic you’d like us to talk about! 775-234-8373

HTBH 003: Nurturing Relationships

by Jared Akers

http://traffic.libsyn.com/howtobehappy/HTBH003-NurturingRelationships.mp3

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how to be happy podcastWelcome to the How to Be Happy Podcast Episode #3. In this session Emily and I talk about nurturing relationships.

Some topics you’ll hear in this episode:

Keeping the Love (relationship) Alive

  • In the early part of a relationship, it’s easier to be physical than emotional. Physical interaction is an easy way to say, “Hey, I’m really digging you!”
  • As the relationship matures, you still show love in other ways
  • Things to do For Him: Emily give’s a shout out to the “ladies at the Starbucks of Summit Fair, Lee’s Summit, MO where she was asked about loving things to do for your husband
    • Leaving love notes (maybe in your husbands coat pocket)
    • Emily mentions doing things like folding a wash clothe nice or a chocolate under the pillow like you would see in a five star hotel
    • Letting him know it’s OK to enjoy himself and relax
  • Things to do For Her:
    • The obvious ones, flowers (for no reason)
      • We talk a little bit about orchids. Each has its own love language like people sometimes
    • Find out what they “dig” – Pay attention
    • Just be kind
    • Leave notes
  • Jared’s a PC, Emily is a MAC and we make it work just fine
  • Date Night
    • Schedule time when it’s just the two of you
  • Communication is always key
  • Spontaneity
    • Be willing to be spontaneous
    • Although communicate, some people like to be mentally prepared, like when they have an expectation
    • We talk a little bit about traveling and how Jared used to schedule everything. And how it’s more important now to “wear life like a loose garment” and go with the flow
    • Decide “how big of a deal is it” if we decide to go do something else  – other than what we expected
    • We share a story about our first trip together to St. Croix. Expectations and that we can decide, are we going to be part of the problem, or the solution? And Jared get’s sprayed by ants in the Jeep

Alone Time

  • Keeping Self Image – Independence
  • Waiting on your spouse to get read – don’t rush them
  • Hobbies
  • Having alone time is good – then you have something to share with each other later

Friends

  • Circle of Friends – How much investment do you point in a relationship that’s not positive?
  • Hanging out with People Who Inspire You
  • Investing in Relationships

Family

  • Family is important but we can still surround ourselves with people that inspire us
  • Love more by caring less

Some items reference or mentioned in this episode:

  • “How do you get your nearest and dearest to change their behavior? Simple: Stop giving a damn what they do, says Martha Beck.” Martha Beck’s How to Love More by Caring Less in Oprah Magazine.
  • St. Croix
  • Flowers

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HTBH 002: Tips on Dating

by Jared Akers

http://traffic.libsyn.com/howtobehappy/HTBH002-HowToBeHappyDating.mp3

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how to be happy podcastWelcome to the How to Be Happy Podcast Episode #2. In this session Emily and I talk about our dating history and how we first met and some tips and experiences on dating.

Some topics you’ll hear in this episode:

Questions to Ask on a Date:

  • Family (theirs and yours) How they interact with friends
  • Religion
  • Values

Do you show up with a gift?

How honest do you get? TMI?

Where to find dates?

Witnessing how others act around friends and family can tell you a lot about the kind of person they are.

Looking for things about them that should/could change?

Expectations

Chase or be chased?

Online dating tips

Living together – Should you?

How long should you date before getting married?

Some items reference or mentioned in this episode:

  • Plenty of Fish
  • Las Vegas
  • St. Croix
  • SCUBA diving

Please subscribe below to the podcast to get automatic updates:

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About Me

Jared & Emily Akers Hello, I'm Jared Akers. And that lovely lady next to me, that's my wife Emily. This photo was taken in 2009 while on the island of Curacao SCUBA diving. We're happy, and want you to be happy too.

Learn more about me.

Recent Posts

  • 31 Quotes About Love to Ignite Your Relationship
  • The Pain and Joy of Discovering Who You Are (and are not)
  • 5 Tips on How to Stay Positive no Matter What the Circumstances. #3 Saves me Everyday
  • How to Take an Awesome Vacation Every Six Months, 4 Tips on Finding Travel Deals
  • How to Be Happy Everyday: 10 Tips (#8 is golden)

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Happiness For the Practical Mind by Jared Akers

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