MrBrad Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 This arrived in my mail today, and it seems to make sense. Do you ever wonder why some expats seem to weather the challenges of expat life better than others? Expatriate and cross-cultural coach, Margarita Gokun Silver, shares seven habits of happy expats. Happy expats are intensely curious. Happy expats accept others as they come, they don't judge, and they don't try to change people to their liking. Happy expats look at everything as an amazing learning experience. Happy expats find opportunities wherever they are and they don't lament those they've left behind. Happy expats know that feeling sad at times is part of the game. Happy expats share. Happy expats stay clear of criticism, sulking, and stonewalling. Examples and further detail of each of these habits can be read here, at Expat Exchange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genericnic Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I think those are traits of almost anyone that weathers the challenges of life, expat or not. Good post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I have only "one habit" as an expat to make me happy...how much they are paying...if this is ok...the rest dont matter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanForbes Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Although I'm not an expat I prettty much follow all those fundamentals for happiness. I continually say that happiness is a state of mind that you DO have power over. YOu can CHOOSE to be happy or choose to be sad. it's all up to you. As long as I am vertical or horizontal by choice I am happy. I can't change how anyone else feels. All I can do is choose to be happy myself and not do anything to harm others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Only one or two of them apply to me, but I am a happy expat anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirineou Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Although I'm not an expat I prettty much follow all those fundamentals for happiness. I continually say that happiness is a state of mind that you DO have power over. YOu can CHOOSE to be happy or choose to be sad. it's all up to you. As long as I am vertical or horizontal by choice I am happy. I can't change how anyone else feels. All I can do is choose to be happy myself and not do anything to harm others. I could not agree more! I always get annoyed when I read the inevitable post" Why is Thailand , or Thais so........" insert your negative comment in the blank. Thailand and life in general is what you make of it, You always find what you are looking for! You know what they say, " misery loves company" If you are looking for misery , guess what, that is all you will find. this is an over simplification , and a subject that could take chapters to discus but, everything that exists is a construct of your imagination" How you perceive things is your choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombkk Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Although I'm not an expat I prettty much follow all those fundamentals for happiness. I continually say that happiness is a state of mind that you DO have power over. YOu can CHOOSE to be happy or choose to be sad. it's all up to you. As long as I am vertical or horizontal by choice I am happy. I can't change how anyone else feels. All I can do is choose to be happy myself and not do anything to harm others. I am indeed an expat, and I agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thules Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Good post OP, and equally good responses. I would seriously like to float a 'chicken and egg' type question.... Are people who are content (nothing to do with smugness etc) in their inner selves naturally display the traits OP outlines ? and / or / both Do people that display OP's outlined traits become naturally content in their inner selves ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stander Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I have lived and worked overseas since 1979 and I would say the ability to fake sincerity is certainly an asset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilHarries Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 They missed Golden Rule #1: Happy expats have gold (aka money). Without that it is next to impossible to be happy in a country where you have no right to live. Otherwise the rest are merely traits of any happy person anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurnell Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I must be one unhppy expat according to that list of fantasies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulwy Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Mr. Stephen Covey would have been proud of Ms. Margarita Gokun Silver's creative thinking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forethat Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Here we go again.... How on earth can anyone even contemplate discussing this before agreeing on the conditions. Can someone please give a clear definition of "expat"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_Dog Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Mr. Brad... By coincidence I was just thinking about my friends that are happy this morning over coffee. Great list. As I look at my friends that are doing well, almost all of them get some form of exercise like walking or biking. They also have some form of interest that they practice such as developing land, building a car, photography, travel, charity work, or searching out restaurants. All of them have a positive attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzieovaseas Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 Here we go again.... How on earth can anyone even contemplate discussing this before agreeing on the conditions. Can someone please give a clear definition of "expat"? It seems the definition of an "expat", or at least as far as the author of that article is concerned, might be anyone who spends any amount of time away from his own country and culture. Many good responses, and as usual Forbesy chips in with his ever positive and always well balanced thoughts I would add that an ability to see the positive side of EVERYTHING is a must. Even in extreme scenarios. Take being robbed for instance (as described in a recent post) and as i have also been, it is normal to feel a mountain of anger and bile towards anyone and everyone at first thought. But in retrospect, and as time passes, you might also consider yourself lucky you did not interrupt the thieves in the act, which may have resulted in you, or a loved one, being shot, stabbed, maimed for life, or even killed...thieves (especially in Thailand) do not want to be caught and do not pussyfoot around. Also being able to have a daily appreciation of even the most simplest things in life might help. Example being to think how nice is this tom yum,moo yang and a few beers is, instead of lamenting about how "if i was at home right now i could have big steak,pizza, all trimmings" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
473geo Posted November 27, 2010 Share Posted November 27, 2010 The secret to being happy is easy............ If you feel unhappy........... Do something about it................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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