When I did, I got a Chinese restaurant, an assisted living place, and a men’s spa that sounded sketchy.
Waze doesn’t know the way to happiness because it can’t be plotted by GPS.
Happiness is not on any map, nor is found at any destination. In fact, if you find yourself looking for the way to happiness you’ve already missed the exit.
So how do you find happiness? That’s a great question and I might not be able to answer it for you.
But for me, I can tell you what works: The way my wife laughs, makes me happy. The look in my kid’s eyes when they see something awesome for the first time, man does that make me happy. A song that brings back a very cool memory? Oh yeah, super happy. Completing a difficult challenge that I've trained for makes me ecstatic. Helping someone, trying to be a good person, and being honest – VERY HAPPY.
But for you? I have no idea. I mean, I can make a suggestion.
Start by turning off Waze. And while you’re at it, put your phone on airplane mode. Maybe take somebody you like on a drive to nowhere. Stop somewhere along the way and buy a smoothie bowl. Root for a team you don’t like. Sit with someone really old and ask them what made them happy. Close your office door and take a nap. Run a mile listening to Mahler 5 on your air pods. Have a long conversation with a five-year-old. Ask a homeless person how they’re doing, and then give them ten bucks. Make a list of things you should be doing then rip it up and watch YouTube videos of Super Dave.
And most importantly—choose to be happy.
Happiness isn’t on a map nor is it a destination that we can arrive at by achieving a certain goal or obtaining a particular thing.
It is a choice that we make every day, regardless of our circumstances or external factors.
By being mindful, kind, purposeful, and living a life of meaning, we can cultivate happiness within ourselves and experience a greater sense of fulfillment and joy in all aspects of our lives.
Here are things that bring me an abundance of happiness:
- Practice gratitude: Gratitude is the practice of focusing on the good things in our lives and appreciating them. When we practice gratitude, we shift our focus from what we don't have to what we do have, which can have a profound impact on our sense of happiness and well-being.
- Be kind to others: Being kind to others not only makes them feel good, but it also makes us feel good. When we help others and make a positive impact in their lives, we feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment that can contribute to our overall happiness.
- Pursue a life of purpose and meaning: When we have a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives, we feel a sense of fulfillment that can contribute to our happiness. This might mean pursuing a career that aligns with our values, volunteering for a cause we believe in, or spending time with loved ones.
- Take care of our physical and emotional well-being: When we take care of our bodies and minds, we feel better physically and emotionally, which can contribute to our overall sense of happiness. This might mean eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and managing stress.
- Be present in the moment: Happiness is not something that we can find on a map or achieve in the future. It is something that we can experience in the present moment by being mindful and fully engaged in the world around us.
