Summary (TL;DR)
Sometimes the things that make others happy don’t work for you, and that’s okay! It’s easy to get stuck doing things out of obligation, not joy. To find true happiness, pay attention to what activities make you smile, keep you engaged, and spark good feelings. Ditch the activities that make you feel blah or pressured. Embrace what makes YOU happy, and remember, your preferences can change over time!
Recognizing Enjoyment
Have you ever watched your friends get totally absorbed in an activity, a game, or a hobby, and realized…it’s just not doing the same thing for you? That happened to me recently with survival games. They’re everywhere, and my friends on Discord were having a blast with titles like ‘Pacific Drive’ and ‘Nightingale’. Despite their enthusiasm, I realized something important: for me, that survival game magic just wasn’t there.
What Sparks My Joy
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good game! But my happy place in a survival game involves nurturing pixel pets, exploring, and that feeling of making something thrive – like in ‘Palworld’ or ‘ARK: Survival Evolved’. There’s a curious joy in watching my digital companions flourish. Oddly enough, watching my friends play survival games did make me happy. Sharing their excitement was fun, even if the gameplay didn’t appeal to me.
That got me thinking – how do we know when something truly makes us happy? There are telltale signs:
- The Smile Test: Are you genuinely smiling during the activity? It’s a simple, but powerful indicator.
- Anticipation: When you look forward to something, that’s your happiness radar going off.
- Engaged and Alive: Feeling that flow, that connection with what you’re doing? That’s a good sign.
- The Warm Fuzzies: Joy, contentment, excitement – when positive emotions flow, you’re on the right track.
When It Isn’t Working
On the flip side, there are signals your body and mind send when something isn’t vibing with your happiness:
- The Dread: If you find yourself putting something off, that’s a red flag.
- Feeling Pressured: “Shoulds” and obligations can override our joy.
- Bored to Tears: Monotony and that ‘meh’ feeling are indicators you’re not engaged.
- Grumpy Gus: Irritability and frustration mean it’s time to reevaluate.
Prioritizing Your Happiness
It’s so easy to get caught up in what makes others happy. I stayed invested in ‘ARK: Survival Evolved’ far past the point where the enjoyment for me had fizzled. It wasn’t about the game anymore, it was about not wanting to disappoint my friends. Realizing this was a huge step towards finding my personal joy.
The Path to Your Happy Place
Here’s the thing: what makes you happy is unique to you. Don’t compare yourself to others! Here’s how to find your bliss:
- Be True to Yourself: Own your likes and dislikes – there’s no shame in it!
- Don’t Judge: What makes your heart sing might be totally different from what your friend loves. That’s awesome!
- Embrace the Big AND Small: Happiness isn’t always grand gestures, sometimes it’s in the little joys.
- Check-In Regularly: Our likes and dislikes evolve, so check in with yourself often.
It’s All About You
It’s vital to be aware of what truly brings you joy. Life is too short to waste time on things that drain you instead of filling making you happy. So, the next time you find yourself in a situation that’s leaving you lukewarm, take a step back. Ask yourself: what would really make me smile right now? The answer might surprise you, and that’s the start of an amazing adventure in finding your own unique path to happiness.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to watch my friends play Pacific Drive and Nightingale. Watching them play is my happy place before going to bed.
