A Quote for Those in a Happiness Rut Related to Career and Purpose
Sports and life have many parallels. This is why sports is such a big part of our culture, and this is also why parents use sports to teach children life lessons. One of the best books to read that indirectly puts the parallels of life and sports in perspective is Flow in Sports: The keys to optimal experiences and performances by Susan A. Jackson and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
This book is a must read for all current and former athletes. In reading it you will quickly recognize that the same keys to optimal experiences and performances in sports apply to life too. To put it another way, the same things that make sports fun makes life fun. What’s more, when you’re having fun while pursuing a goal, you’re at your best in both sports and life.
With this in mind, there is a quote in this book on happiness that I find quite insightful. This quote provides some simple insights that a worth pondering when you get into a rut. The authors state:
…research shows that the most memorable and happy moments in people’s lives usually involve a job well done that required skills and concentration or a struggle to overcome a difficult obstacle. People are happy when they have a purpose and are actively involved in trying to reach a challenging goal. When there is nothing to do, no amount of money or expensive possessions makes a person happy.
Questions to Consider When Experiencing a Happiness Rut
By and large, the first thing to consider when experiencing a happiness rut is your purpose.
- Do you have a purpose?
- Did you write it down using a clear and concise statement?
- Are you actively pursuing it?
If the answer is yes to these three questions, then consider the process of pursuing your purpose.
- Do you have a plan that allows you to make progress using small attainable steps?
- Do you reflect on a job well done and celebrate small victories on a regular basis?
Answering these questions in the context of the quote above is a great starting point to help you climb out of a happiness rut. The next step is to take action. If you would like help with this process, please contact me so we can talk about next steps.