14 Ways to Learn the Secret to Happiness
14th Way: Don’t Overdo It
Know when to say when. What gives you joy and happiness the first time may not work the second time. Too much of a good thing may begin not to feel as good if the “thing” becomes more of a routine, or an expectation. Set healthy and reasonable boundaries for yourself and Don’t Overdo It.
There are many sources of happiness for our lives. Some of these sources are primary and need to be cultivated and maintained to the best of our ability. Our marriages, frien
dships, and careers are all fundamentally important to the quality and level of our happiness. Other sources are not as important to our overall well-being – these are the sources we need to watch and, perhaps, change if we begin to find them not as rewarding. Examples of these sources would be our hobbies and our instant gratification moments.
To explain, after a particularly hard day you may decide to stop by a Starbucks on the way home and order a double mocha. On this day, it’s perfect. The smoothness of the chocolate is comforting and hits the spot. But do you need to make this stop everyday? Trust your instincts and listen to your inner voice – it’s usually right.
The important concept is here not to confuse activity with happiness. Don’t rely on doing one certain thing to bring you happiness. Typically the action (ordering the double mocha) is not what brings the happiness, but rather it’s the grace you give yourself to put you in that moment to say you are worthy and deserving of the comfort. True happiness comes from this state of mind and self acceptance.
If you enjoyed today’s article, please donate to The Next 45 Years. Thank you.
Now you can get one daily email that gives you any article that has been written on The Next 45 Years that day: subscribe here.