Last week I asked the question, “Are you happy?”

Recently I completed reading the book, Think Again by Adam Grant. The basis of the book deals with a few themes:

  • How we need to be willing to change our minds to grow and expand.
  • How to speak to others that might have opposite beliefs from ours.
  • How to allow someone else to change their mind from questions instead of statements.

And,

  • How chasing happiness as a goal can prevent you from achieving it.

Rooted in the American Declaration of Independence is the pursuit of happiness, and if we aren’t careful, we can end up miserable instead.

How can this be? Here are some possibilities:

  1. As we search for happiness we become too busy evaluating our life instead of actually experiencing it.
  2. We might spend too much time attempting to create peak happiness moments instead of paying attention to how often we are just plain happy.
  3. As we seek happiness we might be pursuing pleasure instead of purpose.

This last possibility is based on data that seems to say that striving for meaning in your life is healthier than striving for happiness.

This fits what a very successful friend of mine said to me one day. It was more important to him to lead a life of significance rather than pursue success.

Personally, I have found greater joy and happiness in contributing to others and philanthropy.

If you have ever supported a friend through a tough time by just being there for him or her, you can relate to what I’m saying. It costs nothing to provide emotional support.

You can purchase pleasure, which you might think is happiness. However, pleasure is external and fleeting. Happiness comes from within.

And one of my favorite quotes is attributed to Abraham Lincoln; “Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.

Are you seeking happiness, success, significance, or purpose?

To Your Prosperity,

Rennie