There are things more worthwhile to pursue
Someone sold us a plastic apple. It’s not what we think it would be. I refer to the pursuit of happiness.
Pursuing happiness is chasing soap bubbles. They always pop. Happiness can be right in front of us, and poof, gone. It is elusive because — life.
What to do about this?
Choose Your Currency
I saw a great image on social media. Someone had made a chart of currency through different ages. A 5-year-old’s currency was Lego blocks, a middle-aged person’s currency was dollar bills, and an older person’s was time. Clever!
If we are not living thoughtfully, we tend to chase after what the glossy ads tell us to chase. We are brainwashed to accept that those shiny things are the key to a worthwhile life and happiness. Everyone wants to be happy right?
What if we choose something else to chase after? What if we can choose our own currency? Let’s look closer.
Speaking as someone in the ‘time’ category, I suggest… and please bear with me if this sounds boring because it isn’t once you start…
…I suggest the pursuit of priorities is more worthwhile than the pursuit of happiness.
Priorities: The Things That Matter Most to You
When you figure out what truly matters to you, and live according to that, happiness will no longer be an unpredictable tyrant — sometimes right with you, sometimes floating away like an out-of-reach dandelion seed.
I say tyrant because happiness will come and go no matter your wishes. It does that to everyone. This is inevitable because the things that make you happy are often not under your control at all.
If happiness is your goal, you will be disappointed every time something happens to make you unhappy. Golly, no need to add disappointment on top of unhappiness.
About priorities — your priorities are your choice. No one else makes that choice for you and it’s uniquely personal. Try pursuing some and see what fits best for you. Life may go from flavorless to inspired once you find the priorities that best fit the puzzle that is you.
The Big 3 For Me
Here are mine.
1.
Family and friends. I want to find ways to treasure and enjoy those closest to me.
My father in his late 80’s told me, ‘I’m so sorry, Cheryl. My generation did not know we should be involved with our children.’ His words deeply touched me- regret and love were written in his eyes.
2.
Self-care. It took me years to understand that self-care is not necessarily self-centered care.
A better understanding is, that self-care recognizes that my body and mind are where I live and therefore I need to care for them. You know — healthy food, physical and spiritual exercise, and time for refreshing relaxation.
3.
Creativity. Creativity is a powerful force for healing, self-actualization, and more. It’s also a holiday for your brain — no plane ticket required.
In my life, being creative is as essential to well-being as anything mentioned in #2. If I could choose another word for what creativity means to me, it would be ‘freedom’.
Creativity is where you get to find and express your uniqueness while growing the amazing creation that is you. It’s an interesting combination of alone time, and later sharing what you created with others. All of the arts can be that kind of combination. Art means finding you, to share with others.
Working It Out
My 3 priorities condensed: love others — both creatures and Creator, love myself, and be free to be uniquely me.
Yes! I am good with that even realizing, that this will determine how I use my time. Being true to these priorities requires deliberate actions.
This requires a willingness to live a thoughtful life. Even with a great fit, priorities need to be continually reassessed. People change and so do their needs.
My creativity goal is the easiest of the 3. I am blessed to have a job where I encourage people to be creative — to find their freedom in the unique expression of art. I am forever thankful for that. My job lines up well with my priorities and that is amazing.
Take Away
Time is everyone’s currency. We take a while to figure that out, sometime after we get over Legos.
Weary of pursuing that elusive happiness? Consider pursuing other things that matter to you instead.
Your time can be spent on your unique priorities. You may not always be happy, no thinking being is, but there is much worthwhile in pursuing a life in line with your priorities.
All the best on your journey!
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