Skip to main content

Doing this can lead to major unhappiness

Without even realizing it, some people get into the hard-to-shake habit of always trying to find something to nitpick about their lives.

They could have the kind of life others can only dream of -- a bank account flush with cash, a loving spouse, sterling health, wonderful kids, a capacious house, an enviable career.

But it's just never enough.

They need the latest iPhone. They feel compelled to whip up drama in their relationship once they go too long without having an argument with their partner. They grow bored of every job after six months, despite the fact they're paid handsomely and have nothing to complain about in the workplace.

These hard-to-please individuals will be perpetually dissatisfied until the day they realize that life isn't about having the most or best of everything, but about making the most of what one has. 

That's not to say that one can't strive to achieve goals and better their station in life. After all, whether we wish to launch our own business, learn a new language, or pen a best-selling novel, no one is going to pursue our dreams for us.

But if one's driven to seek out a newer phone or watch only for the sake of keeping up with the Joneses, or because they're simply trying to fill a void in their life, they will only continue to court discontent.

The happiness we derive from material stuff is fleeting.

When we look back on our lives in old age, will we be thinking about the toys we owned?

No, we'll reflect upon those special moments spent with family and friends that captured our hearts.

Granted, a fun-filled trip to the Cayman Islands certain makes for great memories, but it doesn't come cheap.

But no one says one needs to take an expensive vacation to have a memorable time. Study after study has found, in fact, that experiences bring people far more happiness than mere material possessions.

Why?

Because while material objects can break, tear, or rust, a fantastic experience can be treasured in the heart and mind for a lifetime. And while specific details can be lost to memory and old age, pictures and videos come in handy when the urge to reminisce strikes.

Life is perfect for no one.

There will always be someone out there who's richer or better looking.

But does it matter? It's up to us to make the most of the life we've been given.

The irony of it all is that the more you seek, the less you seem to find. Sometimes all it takes to appreciate what we have is to look around and count our blessings.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...
1 comment
Read More

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...
6 comments
Read More

Men prefer to marry brunettes

Study after study shows that men prefer blondes as girlfriends or mistresses and brunettes as wives . It seems many men see brunettes as more trustworthy and loyal. What's more, even though participants claimed that blondes are better in bed, they feel brunettes are better kissers and more affectionate than blondes. I find these results to be rather interesting. In my high school and early college days, I actually had a preference for blondes myself -- that is, until I hooked up with my now-wife. From that point on, I deemed brunettes as more attractive and marriage material, probably because they reminded me of and more closely resembled her. I think we can blame Hollywood, shows like Baywatch, and Playboy for painting blondes as wild, big chested, promiscuous and loose. (Yes, I know that there are brunettes in Playboy, but they seem to be in the minority.) When someone tells a man to think of an attractive blonde, who do you think likely crosses his mind? More likely than...
Post a Comment
Read More