“Do not seek the finish line. Find joy in every step of the race.” – Unknown
It is a well known fact that today we tend to do stuff not for the sake of pure enjoyment, but rather for reaching a desired result. Since early childhood we are taught in school to study so we can pass our exams and move up the educational system. We select our professions not by passion but by potential for prosperity and success. We find jobs that pay well, instead of considering whether or not we are passionate about them. Then we work day by day in expectation for the weekend, a holiday or pay day.
All of that, coupled with today’s consumerism make us forget the simple things that we already possess, we forget to notice what truly matters and what can make us happy. Instead, we want more and more every day – a new phone, car, house, clothes. And this too can be thought of as an end of a journey. Let’s say, you want to buy a new car. You think to yourself – “Once I buy my new car, I’ll be so happy. I will be able to go anywhere I want.” But then what really happens after you get that new car? Maybe you are thrilled and exited for a week or two, but then reality sets in. You have to pay for insurance, taxes, parking, fuel. And very soon, what was once your dream, has now become a burden. What was once a desired outcome, has turned into a grim beginning.
We continuously fluctuate between highs and lows, swayed by advertisements, people’s opinions and community norms. There is so much noise everywhere around us that we hardly ever stop to consider what we truly long for.
But how can we avoid this constant chase of elusive satisfaction?
Here are 5 practical steps that you can implement straight away and achieve true happiness and satisfaction, not tomorrow, not next week or next year. But right now!
1. Every morning, spend at least 5 minutes sitting quietly.
You may wonder, why didn’t I say “Meditate for at least 5 minutes”. Well, I’ve noticed that many people fear the word “Meditation”. Maybe it sounds too formal, too foreign or too arduous. But trust me, that’s far from the truth. You don’t need to be sitting in an uncomfortable position and force yourself not to think. In actuality, that’s exactly the opposite of meditation. Just sit or lie down comfortably in a quiet room And focus on breathing in and out. That’s all you need to do. At the end of those 5 minutes you will feel refreshed and energised.
2. Spend some time contemplating on what you truly want.
An easy way to do that is to get a pen and a piece of paper, set a timer for 2 minutes, and make a list of everything you want. Aim for 30 points. Now you may say that 2 minutes are not enough. But that’s actually the trick. I don’t want you to have enough time to think, just jot down anything that comes to your mind. You will be surprised at the end result.
3. After making your list from step 2, start working towards at least one of the points you have put down.
Every day do something small towards obtaining it. If it’s a new skill you wanted to learn, spend 15 minutes daily studying and practicing it. That would not only help you achieve it over time, but if it’s something you are truly passionate about, it will give you true enjoyment every day.
4. Your job is a big part of your life. Make sure you enjoy it.
if you are at a full time job, you spend 40 hours per week at it. That’s 2400 minutes, every single week. Think about it, if you don’t enjoy your work, you spend 2400 minutes a week in boredom, misery and frustration. So what’s my advice? Try to find something you like about your work and focus on it every day, and I am sorry, but that something cannot be your salary! Maybe you can have a discussion with your manager, tell them which tasks you enjoy the most, explain them what are you good at and what areas you need further training in. Usually, employers are quite happy to help create a more thriving environment for their staff. And if there is absolutely nothing you like about your job, then maybe this is the time for a big change.
5. Every time you decide to pursue something, whether that’s a new achievement or the latest gadget on the market, stop and consider the following questions:
“Do I really need that?”
“Do I really want it? And why?”
Imagine that you have managed to obtain that particular thing. How content and happy are you now? Do you see yourself truly satisfied? Or do you see yourself, already planning your next purchase?
Trust me, this trick will save you a lot of disappointments and effort.
There you go my lovely, 5 simple steps you can take today towards true fulfilment and happiness.