Happiness is Not a Race
As I’ve undertaken writing Primrose Ponderings to help others learn how to be happier, I’ve wondered if I’ll be able to keep writing often “enough” to please my readers. I also wonder if what I write will be of “enough” value for my readers. It’s a common worry for writers of all genres and one that some of us struggle with for a long time.
To resolve my concern, I decided that I will simply do my best. End of story.1
I know that I have ideas that will work for most (if not all) of my readers. I know that I have enough skill to communicate those ideas. My challenge is simply in marketing Primrose Ponderings and that will unfold over time if I’m consistent and don’t give up.
As a seeker of happiness, you have a similar challenge. You have the skills needed to take on the journey. The ideas you need are available and they are free. You simply need to do your best to read Primrose Ponderings and to put those ideas into practice. Your journey will require consistency and patience.
In both of our cases, what we are undertaking is not a race. I don’t have to write more often or better than anyone else. I just have to write. You don’t have to be happier than anyone else. You just have to work to maximize happiness in a way that resonates the most with you.
The most important thing to remember is to never, ever give up on the journey. Even though you might try some of the exercises or other ideas for years — or even decades — without much movement, you could wake up any day and realize that you are a happier person than you were previously.
You also might find yourself going through difficult periods, even grief or depression, perhaps. During the most difficult times you might be surprised at how much a happiness “practice” can get you through those tough times.
Remember, you’re not in a race. You’re not trying to be happier than anyone else. You are just trying to raise your own happiness set point. With that in mind, your journey becomes uniquely your own and you can celebrate every time you detect progress, even if it’s not progress that would impress anyone else.
Even if I stop writing Primrose Ponderings, you should never stop your quest to be happier. The world can survive without this newsletter, but the world cannot survive without you being the happiest person you can be. Your joy, peace, and well-being will bring immeasurable value to the world.
Let’s both work to bring happiness to a world that could use a lot more of it right now. Deal?
I almost put a footnote here and then decided against it. But since I didn’t make any footnotes at all in this post, I decided to go back and actually made it a footnote. :)
But why?!?
Because I love footnotes! Well, not all footnotes. Just some footnotes. See, I fell in love with the way my friend Jim of Thursday! fame uses footnotes. He uses them in interesting, creative and surprising ways. And as good as his newsletters are (and they truly are, you should subscribe!) sometimes his footnotes are the best part of his posts.
So actually, what I’m doing is copying — to the best of my ability — the creative way in which my friend Jim uses footnotes. He’s much more creative than I am but he inspires me to try and that’s huge.
I’m grateful to Jim, not only for his footnotes, but because he’s one of my inspirations for Primrose Ponderings, too. Jim’s you-can-do-it attitude was a big part of why I decided to go professional with a newsletter. Jim helped me with writing and that allows me to help you.
Gratefully, this non-race journey is one that we don’t have to take alone. :)