How to Be Happier Without Making Any Big Life Changes

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/srH6K4_shZE/

Laughing Girl

“The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now.” ~Robert G. Ingersoll

In 2014 I changed my whole life.

I quit a horrible job, traveled to Costa Rica and Panama, moved across the country, moved in with my partner, and landed my dream job in an education charity.

Why did I change so much? The answer is simple—happiness.

I had spent three years planning and dreaming of a different future for myself. One where I could travel, have a job I found meaningful, and live with my boyfriend in our own flat. Finally, after one morning too many spent in tears, I built up the courage to quit my job.

I spent the next few months riding on a wave of relief. Everything was going to be all right. I was going to be happy and in love with my life.

The problem was, this didn’t happen.

It soon became clear that I wasn’t experiencing the blissful future that I’d dreamed of. I ended up feeling even worse than I had felt before I changed anything. A sense of dread and helplessness crept over me as I realized that changing your life situation doesn’t automatically make you happier.

There was no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

After a month or two of trying to pull myself out of a depression by making plans for a long off future…

What do you think?

comments