We're all told that we have the power to shape our future, but most people never think about what they should do to consciously create their future. Unfortunately, many people spend their lives spinning their wheels, never achieving the things that they want for themselves.
In this post, you'll learn about how our habits are largely responsible for why we have not created a desired future and how we can change that with goal-setting and mindfulness.
Our Pursuit of Happiness: The Modern-Day Quest for Self-Improvement
Ever since the dawn of time, man has sought to improve his environment and himself. With advancements in technology, we can now even attempt to improve our bodies organically. But despite these advancements, we've never been more unhappy. We're dissatisfied with where we are and what we have because too often our belief system does not allow us to truly embrace the truth of who we are and what's possible for us within our own minds and the confines of our own existence. While this may seem a paradox, it is self-evident that our beliefs about ourselves directly affect how happy we feel in any given moment.
For a long time, the pursuit of happiness was one where we tried to capture fleeting feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, but rarely to their fullest potential. The key was to get the "feel good" response, not necessarily get the "achievement" response. But what if there were a way that you could get the achievement response while also "feeling good"?
The answer is simple: self-improvement. The concept of self-improvement is one that has always been difficult for most people, but I've found it's worth trying on for size since we're going to do it anyway… So let's dive right in.
The Pursuit of Happiness = The Pursuit of Self-Improvement
"I don't want happiness, I want joy." – Gautama Buddha (paraphrased)
When most people hear the words "self-improvement", they think they have to go out and achieve a certain goal. For example, they might think that self-improvement is them having more money or a better job or a more beautiful girlfriend. And although these are desired outcomes, they are not necessarily the driver for self-improvement. Oftentimes, those things are the side effect of pursuing something bigger.
The actual driver for self-improvement is the pursuit of happiness. Happiness isn't a feeling, it's the result of experiencing our true potential through self-improvement. Therefore, the pursuit of happiness requires that we achieve an improvement in ourselves and embrace who we really are by achieving our goals.
But there's a problem: we don't usually know what our true potential is. And when we do not know it, it's easy to be consumed with preoccupation and distraction over things that will never bring us happiness.
For example, if you want to be a professional athlete, the pursuit of happiness will require you to do the work necessary to become a professional athlete. Therefore, happiness cannot be achieved without self-improvement.
As you consider this concept, think about the things that could get in the way of your happiness:
You might not be living in a place where your dreams can come true. If that's the case, then you need to read this book (HERE) and learn how to find happiness anywhere, no matter what the circumstances may be. You might not have enough money or earning potential.