Aiming at happiness is like trying to hit a moving target
Ask yourself a simple question: “How would I know I’ve made a success of my life?”
Humans were made to aim at things. That’s why we love sports so much. The main objective of most sports is to aim at and hit some sort of target – hitting, kicking or moving a ball towards a predetermined destination, aiming a car or bicycle in a certain direction at high speed, shooting an arrow, jumping or running towards some sort of line. You get the idea. And the really interesting thing is, many of us are willing to pay a lot of money to watch others hit these marks.
Back to the idea of success. In sports, the objectives are clear. We know who is winning because there is some sort of scoreboard. But life doesn’t work like that. The objectives are not always clear, and the scoreboard is not all that specific. What many, if not most, people tend to do is to equate their perceived level of success to their subjective feeling of happiness. There are many messages telling us daily that this should be the case – buy our product and be happy, watch this show and be happy, use our shampoo and be happy. Being happy is definitely not a bad thing, but the issue is it never lasts. Like all emotions, it comes and goes.
Experience has shown that there are plenty of people going through very difficult situations in these times. Happiness seems to be at a low point, collectively speaking. The world is changing, and it is causing uncertainty, which feels uncomfortable and chips away at our happiness. So, when we don’t feel happy for a moment, period or season of life, does that mean we are failing at life?
The answer must be a resounding NO.
But what is the alternative? What trumps happiness (pun intended)? The answer is meaning, significance, purpose.
There are things that will always matter, irrespective of your short-term emotions.
One of them is the quality of the relationships in your life. Invest in them. Spend quality time with the people you love. Share your time and energy, show true care and be present. Give your mom a call, play with your kids, make time to see your friends. They matter.
Second, develop your skills. The world needs what you have to offer. Become as good as you possibly can, expand your skillset, master something, contribute. This is a sure way to make a meaningful impact.
Lastly, look for some bigger cause to get involved with. Instead of just being focused on your own happiness, do your best to make life a bit better for someone else. Aim at having a positive impact on those around you, in whatever you do. You never know where the ripple effect might end.
The Take-Away
Happiness is not a destination where you can camp out in – it never lasts. Life is just too complicated to guarantee it. Rather, aim at focusing your energy on things with long-term, lasting impact. Invest in your relationships. Develop your skills and continue growing. Look for opportunity to contribute towards something bigger. This will lead to a life of significance. And that is worth aiming at.
If you don’t know what to aim for or are struggling to find meaning, get in touch, we would love to help you find your aim. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
