Want to be Happy? Make Things Happen!
The other day I finished reading Jonathan Haidt's The Happiness Hypothesis. In the second to last chapter he makes the claim that people have an innate desire to make things happen. He defends the claim by illustrating the joy babies experience in flailing their arms around their play pens and watching balls bounce, lights flash, and chimes jingle. Even at a young age, there is something magical, and innately human, about making something happen.
It brings us joy to make things happen. Artists love to create masterpieces. Businesspeople love to launch new ideas. Athletes love to make the right play that leads to a score.
It is a very simple truth, but one that I have often overlooked, and I suspect you have too. I believe that by reminding ourselves of this basic reality, we can live happier lives.
Reframe Your Work
Most of the conversations I have with people who are experiencing burn-out in their job or education start with something along the lines of "It is just so mundane. I'm doing the same thing everyday, and I am not learning or accomplishing anything."
Our work losing all sense of meaning and enjoyment when we do not feel like we are making anything happen. Nobody likes to be a paper-pusher or a cog in the machine. We want to be making things happen.
If we can reframe our work to emphasize making things happen, I suspect we will find our jobs and academic pursuits more fulfilling.
Here are five ways to reframe your work:
Create a checklist. By completing the list, you will be able to see all the things you have made happen. (see My Notebook and My Checklist)
Ask for more autonomy and responsibility, or even better, fully utilize the autonomy and responsibility you have already been given.
Find the best way to accomplish your tasks instead of doing it the way you have always done it.
Set daily and weekly goals to work towards.
Start a project, initiative, or activity with a group of people. Working alongside others in pursuit of a common goal is one of the best ways to make things happen and be able to see the results.
[blog_subscription_form subscribe_text="Enter your email to receive weekly posts in your inbox"]