Happy to be told not to start (6)
I believe the answer is:
elated
'happy' is the definition.
(associated in meaning)
'be told not to start' is the wordplay.
'be told' becomes 'related' (as in relating a story).
'not to start' means to remove the first letter.
'related' with its first letter taken away is 'ELATED'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for elated that I've seen before include "Joyful, uplifted" , "In very high spirits, really chuffed" , "Jubilant, very pleased" , "Intensely delighted and proud" , "Cock-a-hoop" .)