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Are You Happy Enough?
You aim to be happy, but what if you can just be happy enough?
Linda Hung
May 06, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Monday Me’s — Being Happy Enough
We often end up chasing the next best thing that makes us happy, but what if we change our perspective to be happy “enough” with where we’re at? Let’s dive into what it means to be happy “enough.”
Today’s Topics:
That Greatest Wealth
The Contentment Framework
Question for you
The Greatest Wealth
"The greatest wealth is to live content with little."
“When I have a house, I will be happier.”
“Once I get 10k followers, my life will be better.”
“The perfect boyfriend/girlfriend will make me feel whole.”
Attaching your happiness to an end destination means you can’t be happy without it. You fall into a trap of an eternal state of unhappiness because you haven’t achieved/got what you wanted. You attach your happiness to something that you may or may not achieve or get. There’s no guarantee.
Instead of attaching your happiness to what you don’t have, look around with what is around you and find contentment through the present. Changing this perspective means that the end destination is an ADDITION of happiness to where you are now. Your end destination will bring even more happiness rather than define your ultimate happiness.
Content ≠ Gratitude
Me when writing “What am I grateful for?”
I’ve always hated gratitude journaling. I simply cannot resonate with it and oftentimes feel like I’m trying to convince myself to accept situations that I genuinely do not like.
There’s truth in finding the little things in life to be grateful for, but when you are trying to force yourself to accept a situation you don't like, your “gratitude” starts to gaslight you into accepting it. Instead, find contentment. I’ve simplified my “Contentment Framework” into 8 steps:
Contentment Framework:
Evaluate Your Current Everyday: Reflect on what your typical day looks like. What activities do you engage in? How do you spend your time and energy?
Future Happiness Check: Imagine if your everyday routine remains the same in the future. Will this routine lead to long-term happiness and fulfillment?
Identify Fulfilling Elements: Identify aspects of your daily life that bring you joy, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. These can be small actions or habits that contribute positively to your well-being.
Eliminate or Modify: If certain parts of your daily routine don't align with future happiness, consider eliminating or modifying them. Focus on activities that contribute meaningfully to your overall fulfillment.
Set Intentional Goals: Set goals and intentions for your daily life that are aligned with your values, passions, and long-term happiness. Aim to make each day purposeful and fulfilling.
Regular Reflection: Regularly reflect on your daily experiences and adjust your routine as needed to ensure ongoing fulfillment and happiness. This can be a weekly or monthly reflection.
Mindful Living: Practice mindfulness and present moment awareness in your daily activities. Engage fully in each moment to derive more satisfaction and fulfillment from everyday experiences.
Appreciation: Cultivate an appreciation for how you have carried yourself. Focus on what you have/have done rather than what you lack/have not achieved, fostering a sense of contentment and fulfillment in the present moment.
Action: Take out a piece of paper and reflect on your daily moments. Reply back to this e-mail and let me know how this went!
Question to Ponder:
What if the pursuit of 'more' is actually keeping you from experiencing the fullness of 'enough'?
Dreams are necessary, but when happiness is attached to dreams, you’ll be stuck in eternal unhappiness. Appreciating your day-to-day well get you to break free from the prison of unhappiness.
Reply to this email with your thoughts on this question.
That’s all for this Monday Me. Reply to this e-mail any findings you have and let me know what topics you would like me to explore!
In the meantime, Stay Smiling 😊
Linda
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