Achieving Happiness: It’s Closer Than You Think

The sun is warm and smiling here in southern Arizona as I sit down to write this week’s article. ?Perfect! Because today we are diving deep into exploring one of life's biggest mysteries: achieving happiness!

But what does that really mean . . . to achieve happiness?

Is it a destination? A clever bumper sticker? A state of mind?

Or something entirely different?

Well, grab your coffee, find a comfy chair, and let's dive into this topic together.

Happiness: The Universal Quest

We're all familiar with the idea of the pursuit of happiness. We talk about happiness as though it were something to search for, as if it is out there hiding.

Happiness is always just around the corner.

It's sneaky, elusive.

All we need to do is seek it out and then life will be great.

This idea starts when we are kids wanting to be doctors and astronauts and continues into adulthood leaving us to fret or worry until we reach that particular milestone.

I’ll be happy when I become an attending.?

I’ll be happy when I pay off my loans.?

I’ll be happy when I get married.? Have a baby.

I’ll be happy when I make partner.?

I’ll be happy when I make my first million dollars.

I’ll be happy when I buy that new car.

I’ll be happy when I’m financially independent.?

I’ll be happy when I retire. ?

The idea that "I’ll be happy when . . . " pretty much implies that "I'm not happy now."

And while no doubt, many of these things do in fact bring us feelings of joy and happiness, at least initially, often this approach to happiness leaves us wanting to just skip ahead to the "good parts."

But a good life doesn't just consist of a highlight reel.

The idea that happiness is a destination, is deeply ingrained into our way of thinking.

But the truth is...

Happiness is not a destination.

It is not something that we find at the end of a rainbow.?

In fact, the more effort we devote to seeking happiness, often the less happy we become.?

Happiness, in its essence, is more than just a fleeting emotion; it's a complex and multidimensional state of being. It's a deep sense of contentment, joy, and fulfillment that permeates our lives.

Happiness: It's the Journey AND the Destination

What if you were able to experience happiness as a state of being?

As a COR.E Dynamics? Specialist, I want to share the idea that there are two main perspectives for approaching happiness in life - a mastery orientation and a performance orientation.

Mastery orientation is to focus on becoming more engaged in life. It is more about the process of life and less about the specific desired outcomes. It refers to the desire to continually work on becoming the best version of yourself that you can be.

Performance orientation, on the other hand, is focused entirely on the outcome, which includes both 'good' and 'bad' outcomes. This often leads to connecting our self-worth and value (and happiness!) to a specific outcome.

Think of the last road trip you took.

A performance orientation approach would mean that you didn't find anything of value between point A and point B of the trip.

How fast can we get there with the least amount of distractions along the way? Vacation starts at point B!

A mastery orientation approach would mean to be fully engaged during the trip, watching the scenery, the cars on the road, the signs to new places, and take it all in.

With this approach, one is focused on embracing the entire experience, the vacation actually does start at point A.

In terms of Core Energy?, a mastery orientation resonates at higher levels than performance orientation.

(And studies show that higher Core Energy? levels are associated with greater life satisfaction and happiness.)

More on this to come!

Happiness: An Inside Job

Achieving happiness begins with the realization that it starts from within.

It's a state of mind (and a skillset) that can be learned, cultivated and nurtured.

Many physicians believe that they will be happy after achieving a specific outcome (e.g. retire early, make partner, etc.), when in fact what they really want is the feeling associated with that outcome (e.g. satisfaction, freedom, independence, etc.)

But these ideas do not need to be inextricably connected. There are other ways, maybe easier and faster ways, to bring about the feelings of satisfaction, freedom and happiness.

If you could achieve the feelings associated with the outcome you are seeking without necessarily needing to achieve the outcome itself - how would life be different?

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.? For a long time, it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life.? But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid.? At last, it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.” Alfred D’Souza

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Happiness: A new way of thinking

The key to achieving happiness is the realization that how we interact with and respond to the world around us significantly influences our life satisfaction.?

Happiness corresponds to finding pleasure and meaning in the everyday mundane things in our lives (a practice known as mindfulness).

• Watching the sunrise
• Comforting a patient
• Learning something new
• Playing fetch with your dog
• Hearing the laughter of loved ones. ?

This is where enduring happiness resides.

Mindfulness can help you to become more grounded and in turn to find more joy in your everyday life. ?(Be sure to check out the Mindfulness Exercise at the end of the article!)

While practicing mindfulness means focusing your energy on the present, it does not mean ignoring the future. Nor does it promise that life isn't going to throw you a curveball from time to time. How we grow from those experiences to become better human beings is also part of the process to achieving greater happiness.

As physicians, we have a unique opportunity to lead by example. By prioritizing our own happiness, we can inspire our patients, colleagues, and family members to do the same.

In closing, I invite you to reflect on your own thoughts about achieving happiness. What steps can you take today to live a happier, more fulfilled life?

?Here's to achieving happiness, both within and beyond the walls of our clinics and hospitals and homes. Thanks for reading!

Don't miss out on future articles - subscribe today to receive your weekly dose of The Happy Physician: A Practical Guide.

Please share with your colleagues.

My goal is to help inspire a happier world, starting with one doctor at a time.

Cheers,

Tracy Davis

Founder, The Happy Physician

thehappyphysician.com

Interested to try a mindfulness exercise? It's a great way to reduce stress and increase awareness of your surroundings and sensations. You can practice this exercise daily or whenever you need a moment of calm and mindfulness in your day.

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The Five Senses Mindfulness Exercise

Duration: 5-10 minutes

Instructions:

1. Find a Comfortable Space: Start by finding a safe and comfortable place to sit quietly. You can do this exercise anywhere, but it's helpful to minimize distractions.

2. Close Your Eyes: or soften your gaze directed at the floor in front of you.

3. Focus on Your Breath: Take a few deep, calming breaths. Pay attention to the sensation of your breath as it enters and leaves your body. Feel the rise and fall of your chest or the expansion and contraction of your abdomen.

4. Engage Your Senses: While staying seated, explore your environment by bringing awareness to your senses.

- Touch: What does the chair or ground feel like?? Feel the texture of your clothing against your skin.? What temperature or pressure do you appreciate?

- Hearing: Listen to the sounds around you.? Focus first on the sounds farthest away from where you are sitting.? Then slowly listen to the sounds closest to you.? Listen to your own breathing.

- Smell: Take a moment to notice any scents in the air. Pay attention to the quality and intensity of the smells.

- Sight: Open your eyes and observe your surroundings without any judgement.? Take in the colors, shapes and patterns around you.

- Taste: If you have something to eat, like a piece of fruit, try engaging your senses while eating.

5. Return to Your Breath: After spending a few moments with each of your senses, return your attention to your breath. Feel the steady rhythm of your breath as it continues to flow in and out.

6. Close the Exercise: When you're ready, gently bring your attention back to the present moment. Take a few more deep breaths. When you feel ready, slowly open your eyes if they were closed.

Please let me know what you thought of this exercise in the comments below!

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