The Lawyer’s Well-Being Brief. . .The Eight “Happiness Essentials”
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”-Maya Angelou
Welcome (back) to the Lawyer’s Well-Being Brief! Each week, I share insights and practical strategies to help us cultivate well-being and thrive — both personally and professionally. Live well! Lawyer well!
This week we are looking at Maria Baltazzi’s engaging and uplifting book, Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life You Want. Learn more about Maria Baltazzi here, https://mariabaltazzi.com/
The Premise: Happiness as a Creative Production
Drawing on her experience as a television producer for shows like Survivor, Baltazzi uses cinematic metaphors to encourage readers to become the “writer, director, and producer” of their own lives. Happiness, in her view, is not a destination but an ongoing creative process — one that requires both intention and action.
Wholebeing: Beyond Just Feeling Good
Unlike approaches that frame happiness as perpetual joy or the absence of hardship, Baltazzi champions wholebeing: a holistic state integrating mind, body, and spirit. She emphasizes that true well-being doesn’t mean ignoring life’s challenges. Instead, it means consistently showing up authentically, making self-aligned choices, and developing resilience.
“Happiness is resilience wrapped in hopeful packaging.” — Take a Shot at Happiness
The Eight “Happiness Essentials”
Baltazzi distills happiness into eight core values, which she calls Happiness Essentials:
Faith: However personally defined, faith provides a steady foundation for navigating uncertainty.
Love: Seen through the lens of compassion and connection — with self and others.
Health: Treating physical, mental, and spiritual well-being as cornerstones.
Gratitude: Making thankfulness a daily habit, with a focus on appreciating the present moment.
Forgiveness: Letting go of past hurts to make room for peace.
Peace: Cultivating inner calm and equanimity.
Detachment: Learning to release what can’t be controlled, freeing up energy for growth.
Abundance: Embracing opportunities and fostering a generous mindset.
Each chapter in the book spotlights one of these essentials, offering creative exercises (“Photo Ops” and journaling prompts), affirmations, and centering thoughts. Readers are encouraged to take photos that embody each value and reflect on their experiences, making well-being a tangible, day-to-day pursuit.
Practical Applications for Well-being
Baltazzi’s roadmap for well-being is interactive and accessible. Here are some steps inspired by the book:
Photo-Journaling: Use our phone to capture images that represent happiness essentials in our lives. Pair them with reflections in a journal.
Action Opportunities: Try daily gratitude or forgiveness exercises. Meditate or pray, focusing on one essential at a time.
Connect and Create: Join groups or online forums centered on personal growth. Share your happiness journey with others and support their paths.
Takeaway: Well-being Is a Process, Not a Product
Take a Shot at Happiness invites us to turn ordinary moments into scenes of purpose and joy. By engaging mindfully with Baltazzi’s eight essentials, anyone can take meaningful steps toward a richer, more satisfying sense of well-being. The book encourages progress over perfection — a philosophy that transforms happiness from a distant ideal into a lived reality.
So, lets use our camera (or just a pen and paper), and take a shot: happiness isn’t just for someday — it’s waiting to be created today.
Forward Always!
