Have you ever been told that you should enjoy the process of pursuing your goal, but for you the process is rarely ever fun? I will share a simple way on how to maintain happiness while you are pursuing your goals.
How Do You Experience Happiness While Pursing Your Goal?
I want you to think about the RPM on a motorcycle. The RPMS are used as a measure of how fast the bike is going. Some of the numbers are in red. The red numbers are the engine’s maximum speed. Can you ride in the red? Of course you can, but it’s not advisable to ride in the red for long periods of time.
It’s Like Riding a Bike, or Is it?
Your mind and body is like the motorcycle. When you are pursuing a goal, there is an “RPM” that’s always comfortable to ride in. It’s when you first decide to pursue a goal. You get excited and began to brainstorm ideas. Then you do the research to create an action plan. You’re feeling the wind and enjoying the ride. You start to tell your friends and family about your goal and everyone is happy for you. Now, you’re imagining how better life will be and going a little faster, going into the red and this is when you notice a change. There are more potholes to dodge, more obstacles, and more detours. Something might even be wrong with your bike and it’s going to cost money to get it fixed, money you may not have! Doubt and fear begin to consume your mind. You began to question if you can even achieve the goal. You start asking yourself if this goal is even worth your time and begin making excuses on why you should give up. Your goal seems to be moving further and further away. Then you’re discouraged and become unhappy because you’re starting to see that “better life” disappear.
Riding in the Red
When you ride in the red too long you start to link your happiness to that goal. This means you’re depending on the goal to bring you happiness. It causes you to forget that you already have access to an unlimited amount of happiness. You can experience happiness anytime you want!
Is it Possible to Be Happy When the Going Gets Tough?
The way to pursue a goal while maintaining happiness is quite simple. Pay attention to your feelings. Since happiness comes before success, it’s necessary to recognize when you’re feeling unhappy. Unhappiness is a sign you are in the red. When you notice that you are in the red, take a break and focus on gratitude.
Take a moment and be thankful for all of the positive things going on in your life right now and enjoy it! Once you start to experience happiness you lower your RPMS. Now it’s time to get back to pursuing your goal.