Wednesday, June 15, 2022

What Makes You Smile?


The impact of 2020 was isolation. 2021 was about disbelief and anxiety. 2022 has been a mix of frustration, readjustment, acceptance and the arrival of a new normal accompanied by financial stress. It's a good time to step back and do some reassessment.

Many of us are asking ourselves, "What can I do for myself to make my life better? Do I want to make my life bigger or smaller?"  Bigger isn't always better. Is doing more really better?  Some of our readers and friends have pulled back and are doing less. They have become more focused on self and understanding what really turns them on.

We're hearing people say they no longer suffer from FOMO, the fear of missing out. They often see their friends chasing after “stuff, and the "stuff" never seems to be make them any happier.  The enlightened have decided to only chase after things that they know will deliver on the promise of happiness. 

Do you know what turns you on? You might be surprised once you take the time to look inside yourself. Readers have told us that a great way to identify what makes them happy is by looking at the photos on their phones.  Most of us rarely go back and look at them.  It is a lost opportunity. When you look at a photo and it makes you smile, try to capture what it is about the memory that creates the positive feeling you get when you view it. It can be an important clue to understanding what you can do now or in the future that will provoke happiness.

Several of our friends who are heavy into the performance arts, have stopped going to as many performances, and have stopped buying a lot of tickets. They might go to an outstanding performance they have waited for, but they will no longer go to just anything. Someone said, “My husband and I have a sexier time together live streaming than being at the theater!” Watching streaming shows with friends has also taken off. It is about the shared experience, not just the experience itself.

Relationships today are more important than anything. Nurturing them is time well spent on the road to happiness.