Week 16

*For explanation of The Happiness Experiment" go HERE .*


Secrets from last week:
Don't think "what if".
Volunteer.


Secret #31
If you can't reach your goals, your goals will hurt you.


"People who cannot attain their goals become consumed with disappointment. You must let your goals evolve with your life circumstances. Update our goals over time as you consider your changing priorities and resources."


The book gives a great example of a kid who marries at age 18. He promises his wife that he will buy a house before he turned 24. He worked a lot of jobs that didn't pay very well. He saved what he could and got a down-payment from his parents and barely got mortgage approval. They were excited, but the payments were too much. He took on two and three jobs and started to hate the house and the wife he promised it to. 


Look at your goals. If it is something that is not realistic for your life and circumstances, it's not going to make you happy. Set goals that are challenging, but that are attainable.


"If a person's goals are incongruent with his or her abilities, then the goals will contribute to disappointment and disagreeableness, and will quadruple the likelihood of being dissatisfied."


Secret # 32
Exercise.


"People who exercise, whether that involves an intense workout or just a regular long walk, feel healthier, feel better about themselves, and enjoy life more."


I set a goal at the start of this year to go on at least one walk a week. I knew that I could at least do that. When I go on walks with the kids, I push the stroller at least a mile, usually more. It makes me feel good. Evan bought me the Wii Fit. I love it. It's so easy to use and I lost 3 pounds in a week. That makes me feel good. Exercising always makes me feel so much better about myself. It gives me energy and makes me happier. I just don't know why I have to remind myself of that sometimes.


"Research on physical activity finds that exercise increases self-confidence, which in turn strengthens self-evaluations. Regular exercise, including brisk walks, directly increases happiness 12 percent, and can indirectly make a dramatic contribution to improving self-image."