These days, everyone is looking for a shortcut. We take pills, join fads, get surgeries, and any other method to get where we want to be without having to work hard for it. However, the PLEASURE that we gain from these superficial accomplishments are often very short lived. For example, after bariatric surgery (where patients have bowel adjustments for weight loss and diabetes control), almost half have gained significant weight in the following five years. Why? We can talk about many factors in relation to this – hard work builds habits, it also builds appreciation and respect for oneself (this is a general statement and we acknowledge that there are many factors when considering bariatric surgery that aren’t related to ‘effort’ to lose weight). Going through the motions and building healthy habits add to one’s character and may be classified as fitting in to the ‘gratification’ definition as provided by Martin Seligman in his book Authentic Happiness, where he compares ‘pleasurable’ experiences that relate simply to obtaining a fleeting ‘good feeling’ to ‘gratification’ which relates to using your strengths and energies into a kind and meaningful act (either to oneself or to others). Thus, it is important to build your level of self-awareness to be investing your energies not simply in the fleeting pursuit of flattering your ever-changing moods, but seeking your deeper needs of health, satisfaction, integrity and confidence and aligning your goals and actions with these. A deeper, lasting and more resilient state of ‘happiness’ is scientifically proven to result.
LLUMI Australia 