30 days: shifting priorities

[JaredR]

I tend to focus too much on happiness (it's become an obsession!). I am always thinking about my mood and planning ways to improve it. I spend my time thinking about positive emotions and daydreaming about what it would be like if I was the happiest person in the world. I know all too well that the pursuit of happiness often creates unhappiness. I suspect that my happiness would take care of itself if I dropped the attachment, but I have never made an honest effort to change. Until now.

I find that I enjoy learning. I get excited when I discover an unfamiliar word in a book. I am fascinated with the brain and psychology. However, learning is not a major priority for me. Currently, I view happiness as infinitely more important than knowledge. I would like knowledge to be equally if not more important. So I have decided to launch another 30-day trial with the intention of making learning my first priority.

My primary goals:

1. Develop a strong sense of curiosity.
2. Apply myself fully in all new trimester courses.
3. Seek stimulating alternatives to normal entertainment.

I'll be starting tomorrow. Any ideas/feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[magi13]

^^, be in conscious relaxation. That means you're relaxed but ready. ^^,

[Ralph]

There's nothing bad with having such or such priorities. Lifetime happiness certainly might be the purpose of your life. Have you thought about it?

You're right however about becoming too obsessed by it. Never pursue the happiness from the mindset of scarcity. Scarcity is when you assume that there is a somehow limited amount of happiness in the world and you have to fight for it. Wanting something just because you enjoy it and you want it is OK. Wanting something in order to find fulfillment, with a sense of incompleteness is not OK. Make the distinction and hopefully you'll stick to pursuing happiness, because it seems to me that it's your true purpose.

Also, distinguish high level of awareness type of happiness from ego-level happiness. Before you decide HOW you want to be happy, experience the true, spiritual joy. The best way I know to experience a glimpse of it is through Eckhart Tolle's teachings, best described in 'The Power of Now'. If you really, truly don't want to bother, do this: Focus on the present moment and eliminate every thought from your mind. Don't think at all, just be aware of your environment. Don't judge, analyze or daydream. Keep this state up until you start feeling inner joy. If you feel bored, it means you're thinking and doing it wrong

Cheers

Ralph



I'm getting slight nudges from intuition to encourage you to seek happiness in your life. Perhaps your true purpose is to lead people to happiness, to share your positivity with the world. I don't know why I felt an urge to write it, but it didn't seem to be coming from my mind, so think about it.

[JaredR]

Originally Posted by Ralph

I'm getting slight nudges from intuition to encourage you to seek happiness in your life. Perhaps your true purpose is to lead people to happiness, to share your positivity with the world. I don't know why I felt an urge to write it, but it didn't seem to be coming from my mind, so think about it.

I want to make learning a top priority because the direct and total pursuit of happiness makes me feel unbalanced. I need more dimensions than just happiness. I don't intend to completely remove happiness-building from my life. I just need something more (that will hopefully bring me pleasure and joy).

I thank your intuition as I have often thought the same thing. I may be going against the spirit of this trial in saying this, but let's see what happens to my thoughts on happiness as well as my happiness level when I don't directly pursue it.

[JaredR]

Day 1

The first day was quite successful. One of the books I am reading is The Psychology of Harry Potter, which I find absolutely fascinating (I will have to remember to read the other books in the Psychology of Popular Culture series). I began reading and taking notes on Brave New World, which is for the independent study of classic literature I start Monday. I got a head start on another course, and I read some interesting articles on sciencedaily.com. Overall, I didn't do anything that was radical or drastic. I am simply shifting my focus from feelings and emotions to learning and stimulation.

There was a minor setback where I was feeling bored (I had the day off because of exams) and thought "How can I seek pleasure and happiness right now?" when I should have thought "I have the power of the internet: how can I explore my curiosity?"

[JaredR]

Day 5

Strong start to the trimester so far. I am slacking a bit on the independent learning.

[SimonaRich]

You mention that you like learning but you will concentrate on happiness because this is your major priority.

But if learning makes you happy, why would you lessen the time you spend on this activity? This is what creates happiness in the first place - doing things you love.

You cannot just pursue happiness meaning just trying to find it somewhere. You create your happiness by doing things you enjoy and consciously choosing thoughts that are more positive.

[JaredR]

Originally Posted by SimonaRich

You mention that you like learning but you will concentrate on happiness because this is your major priority.

But if learning makes you happy, why would you lessen the time you spend on this activity? This is what creates happiness in the first place - doing things you love.

You cannot just pursue happiness meaning just trying to find it somewhere. You create your happiness by doing things you enjoy and consciously choosing thoughts that are more positive.

I am trying to focus on learning, not happiness.