The Pursuit of Happiness
Happiness is something we are always pursuing…
… which directly implies that we don’t have it now. Think about it.
Whether it is from Thomas Jefferson’s line in America’s Declaration of Independence — Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness — or, the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes’ altering the definition of happiness as “being found in the continual success in the acquisition of things,” this has stayed with us to date.
Happiness thus has become a state of mind and is often misconstrued as a feeling. As a matter of fact, the World Happiness Report, an annual publication written by a group of independent experts defines happiness as an inspiration of every human being and a measure of social progress. Over the past seven years, their focus has moved from personal income to public policies to social progress to good governance to even technological advances as an indicator of happiness.
Is that what we want happiness to be? Do you want it to be externally triggered, always? Do we always want to be chasing it?
This pursuit of happiness has led us to follow, compare, and envy the curated lives of various social media influencers leaving us in a rather depressed state.
… Happiness is after the next achievement or #goal.
… Happiness is out there after I become this or own that.
… Happiness is never here.
By embracing this misleading and never-ending pursuit of happiness, we rob ourselves of happiness in the here and now. We fail to appreciate who we are, what we have achieved, and what we have done to this point. Living this way makes happiness a burden.
Dan Sullivan, the founder and president of The Strategic Coach Inc., and a highly regarded speaker, calls this phenomenon “trying to fill a GAP.” He says that the GAP is a toxic mindset that prevents people from appreciating their lives.
The cure to get out of this false pursuit is to shift your metrics of measurement. Instead of constantly measuring where you currently are and where you want to be, start measuring where you started and where you currently are. Reflect on the milestones you have achieved in your journey.
As Bob Marley said, “The day you stop racing is the day you win the race.” Stop tracking your Todo list. Start tracking your Done list!
#ReinventYourself #YesYouCanChange #personalgrowth
