I found a recent podcast episode from Fearne Cotton’s ‘Happy Place’ with comedian Jimmy Carr as the guest and they talked about happiness and contentment.
The discussion went to the disparity between having lots and being happy with a discussion about trillionaires. In the consumer culture of the western world it’s easy to get caught in the race for more. Jimmy said that he fine people who are fine with what they had impressive, who clearly feels they have nothing to prove to anyone else.
It got me thinking about expectations versus reality and how happiness for me is badly threatened if I expect more than I get. Examples would include being really excited for the Bond film ‘Spectre’ a few years back and leaving the cinema underwhelmed. I suspect that had I gone in either thinking it wouldn’t be good or having no particular view that I would have enjoyed. The same has happened with the later Star Wars films (episodes 8 and 9) and also new albums from favourite artists.
If true happiness exists when in a grateful state and not expecting more than this seems a nice place to be. Feeling thankful for what you have and trying to somehow be in the moment and not always looking at a destination (which may never come or worse, is for all of us the big, deep sleep).
So how do we become more grateful? Not sure yet, interested in your thoughts but expecting less and getting more is a pretty good start.
Leave a Reply