A New (Better!) Kind of Happiness

Everyone wants to be happy but do you really know what makes you happy?

Everyone wants to be happy but do you really know what makes you happy? It is easy to identify things that give us short term joy (ex. day at the beach with a cold drink, hitting the town with the boys or rocking the latest X-Box game.) But in the long run do they really give us satisfaction?

Many people are realizing that taking on new challenges can give them a sense of fulfillment beyond temporary pleasures. You will always need video games (or your hedonistic activity of choice) to help blow off steam but mixing in activities that develop your individual talents and tap into your unique potential can have wide reaching benefits. The most significant is a sense of purpose and accomplishment that is difficult to find in today’s materialistic society. This leads to positive mental, emotional and physical changes that make your life and the life of those around you better.

Identifying these new challenges may be the most difficult part of this endeavor. Invest some time in making a list of things you have always wanted to do. If you are not into lists, keep magazine clippings and articles that inspire you. Include your kids in this activity and have them make their own lists. You may find that your family has many of the same desires. Talk to you kids about their lists and help them to accomplish their goals – you will have hours of experiences to talk about.

Once you have a list, start doing the things on it – no excuses. There will never be a perfect time or place to start. Once you get going though, you’ll find it easier to take on new and bigger challenges.

It may not always be easy to look past the regular short-term pleasure you enjoy but once you make the leap to more fulfilling activities, you will find that happiness is not elusive as society would have you believe.