Tag Archive for contentment

Happiness vs. Reality: The Hedonic Treadmill

June 27, 2023 John Uncategorized No comments

Happiness is something we say we want. But can we have it all the time, and then again should we?

We’ll take this question apart as GenuLines looks at The Hedonic Treadmill.

Happiness vs. Reality: The Hedonic Treadmill

The ‘hedonic treadmill’ is a term that describes one aspect of the human condition. It paints a portrait of what many of us think is the ‘default state’ of happiness.
 
That default state meanwhile summed up as being ‘never quite happy’.
 
The hedonic treadmill is what keeps driving us forward. At the same time it keeps us from giving up.
 
It’s the fine line that most of us walk. Somewhere between being content and a bit uncomfortable.
word happy written out
Proponents of the idea say that we’ll never quite reach perfect happiness. But at the same time we’ll likely never be completely distraught either.

Evidence for the Hedonic Treadmill

So, does the hedonic treadmill actually exist? Right now your gut may be giving you an answer.
 
Do you feel as though you’re never quite content? If you won the lottery tomorrow, would you be completely happy then?
 
According to some studies we do indeed have a kind of ‘baseline’ happiness that we fall back on. One study tested happiness levels before and after life changing events.
 
Some participants would lose a limb and others would win the lottery. After two years both groups were at happiness levels much like their pre-event levels.
 
Let’s look at it from an evolutionary perspective. It’s easy to see why something like the hedonic treadmill might exist.
 
If we were to become completely miserable it might lead us to give up completely.
 
But if we were completely content we would have no motivation to keep striving to make life better. So in this case being in a state of ‘slight discontent’ can be effective.
 
Of course there are also criticisms of the theory. Not everyone is at the same level of happiness. And most of us will experience considerable fluctuation throughout our lives.
 
So the jury is still out on whether such a thing exists. And it’s easy to see that you might never actually want to be ‘100-per-cent happy’.
 
Whether you find that comforting or not is likely to depend very much on your point of view…
JohnK 6-26-2023
Stick figure hears about happinessOverheard: “Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way”
                            ~Sophocles
disclaimer for happiness
 

Real Happiness Comes From Within

June 21, 2021 John Uncategorized No comments

If most people agree on anything it’s that they want to be happy. But many don’t know how to get to that state. 

GenuLines asks you to consider a road map that shows the starting point is VERY close to home!

Real Happiness Comes From Within

Life isn’t always a sip of the sweetest nectar. Often when we look around, everybody else seems to have a happier life.
 
Yet they may be thinking the same about us. So, how do you become happy?
 
egg shows happinessA good start is to love yourself.
 
To love yourself means to accept that you’re not a perfect being, but you are a valuable human being. You have as much worth as anyone else.
 
Genuine happiness also implies contentment and a certain level of peace. It’s not about always being ecstatic.
 
 
 
You’ll experience happiness when you feel good about your job. Or your family and friends.
 
Your looks, your living arrangement, your car, and your possessions.
 
Life teaches you about right and wrong, trying and failing, winning and losing. Failure is part of life, and it can be an important step on the way to success.
 
It should never stop you from being happy.
 
But what about the downtimes?
How can we be happy in the face of negative feelings?
 
Start by making an effort to improve the quality of your life and your surroundings. Better yet, help somebody else do that.
 
Whether it’s cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, working out … they all can help you feel better.
 
Imagine life as a big scoreboard like the ones used in pro sports. Every time you take a step forward, you score points.
 
Wouldn’t it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think to yourself “Whew! Not bad. I’m glad I gave it a shot.”, instead of looking at a bunch of zeroes.
 
Genuine happiness isn’t about driving the hottest car. Or being employee of the year.
 
How do you become genuinely happy?
Everyone has their own definition of happiness. But you don’t have to be rich or even successful in worldly terms.
 
It’s about doing and making the best out of every situation. When you can laugh at your own mistakes yet be willing to try again you’re getting it.
 
When you learn to accept yourself and your faults, you pass ‘Happiness 101’. If you have trouble doing this, work on accepting others and their faults.
 
When you know how to accept others, you’ll likely get acceptance from them. Know how to love and expect more love to come your way.
 
JohnK 6-21-2021
 
Stick figure hears about hapinessOverheard: “Happiness is a state of activity”
                                 ~Aristotle
 
 
 
 
Article image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 
 
disclaimer for happiness
 
 
 
 

A Good Morning Routine Can Change Your Life (re-sending)

January 21, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Your morning routine is on automatic pilot for the most part. You don’t give it much thought.

But what if you tweaked your routine a bit? It could help send you on your way to more success in life.

GenuLines explains how that works.

(You can listen to this article by clicking on the player below)


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banner to help morning routine

A Good Morning Routine Can Change Your Life

How would it feel to start your day motivated and organized? It would be great, wouldn’t it?
 
You’d know what you were doing, and that everything was sorted out. You’d feel brilliant.
 

two people's morning routineIt wouldn’t take much to get a great start to your day every day. The key is to create a morning routine that motivates and organizes you for success; every day.

One of the secrets of success for the very successful is a morning routine. It doesn’t need to be complex nor does it have to be time-consuming to create or follow.
 
 
First, you’ll need to commit to planning it. Then practice it daily until it becomes a habit.
 
Now let’s look at the morning routine of motivated and organized people:
 

Early Start

Forget about long lie-ins and putting the alarm on snooze every 5 minutes. Set your alarm for an hour (or even two) earlier than normal and see your productivity soar.
 
The early start may be tough at first. But if you go to bed earlier and get enough sleep you’ll soon notice a positive difference.
 

Positive Visualization and Affirmations

Set the tone of your day with a positive charge. Visualize your success from the get-go.
 
Use positive affirmations. To boost their efficacy display those affirmations where you can see them often.
 
Do this step within the first 20 minutes of waking. The affirmations will reach your subconscious before your conscious mind takes over.
 
Exercise
Do some form of exercise. It will get your blood flowing, send oxygen through your body, and generally wake up your entire system.
 
You don’t need to go for a 5-mile run every day. Your regimen could consist of morning stretching, yoga or Tai Chi.
 
These will help calm and ground you as well as provide time for inner contemplation.
Hydration
Make sure you keep your body hydrated. Many people start their day with a glass of water and lemon.
 
Herbal tea or green juice are also good choices for an early morning drink to get your day started the right way.
 
Planning
When you know what needs to be done you increase your chances of having a successful day. Have a to-do list ready and identify the order of priority.
 
Make sure the list isn’t too long, 10 items or fewer is an ideal length.
 
Nutrition
A healthy breakfast fuels your body for the day ahead. You’ll feel more alert.
 
And you’ll be better able to concentrate on what needs to get done.
 
Reading
Take some time to read. A few minutes of inspiring material will help you be positive and motivated.
 
Even 10 minutes can be enough to get your mind working and your motivation kick-started.
 
The list of possible reading material is endless. From biographies to self-help the writers can inspire you and even act as role models.
 
Money Tasks
Somewhere during your day, you want to do something that will either make you money or keep you from spending it. Pay your bills so that you don’t get overdue notices and charges.
 
Kitchen Patrol
Prep the day’s meals so that you don’t feel tempted to get take out when you’re feeling tired at the end of the day. Load the dishwasher.
 
Clear (and clean) the kitchen counters.
 
If you want to have a successful day, start it in a positive way. Having a morning routine will ensure that you’re organized for success.
 
And you’ll feel motivated from the start.
 
JohnK 1-22-2020
 
stick figure talking about plant morning routineOverheard: “The sun is new each day”
                            ~Heraclitus
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer about morning routine

Happiness Is More Than Thinking Positive Thoughts

December 24, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
 
Your happiness level isn’t what you’d like it to be. Someone in your circle suggests that you should think positive thoughts. That’s the answer, or so it seems. 
 
Today GenuLines looks at happiness as more than just staying in a positive mindset.  
 

Banner helps with happiess

Happiness Is More Than Thinking Positive Thoughts

The dictionary defines happiness as “the state of being happy.” Not a lot of information to go on there.
 
Let’s look at some different things that happiness can be. But realize that in truth, happiness is in the mind of the beholder.
 
smiley faces show happiness
 
Your Needs are Met
When a person is happy, they usually aren’t wanting for much. It doesn’t mean that they’re not having a tough time.
 
Rather, they’re making what they have fill their needs.
You feel satisfied
When you’re happy you tend to feel satisfied with your life. You think about your life and feel good about your good fortune.
 
This could include your living space, your life partner, or the fact that you live alone.
 
Contentment is a hallmark of happy people. Whether it’s their job, home, health, or things in general.
 
Happy people do experience stress. But they have a way of drawing on their contentment when things are less than perfect.
 
You Are at Peace
A happy person often feels a lot of peace surrounding their life and family. They tend to know that everything will turn out okay.
 
They’re pretty good at turning negativity into positivity.
 
Your Definition
You can set your own definition of happiness. It’s not necessarily about getting tons of stuff.
 
It’s not about finding a spouse unless you want that. Or about having kids, unless you want that.
 
It’s a Journey
Happiness isn’t a destination where you’ll forever dwell. It’s a lifelong journey that will have many ups and downs and struggles.
 
Still, you manage to feel good about it.
 
In the 1989 movie “Parenthood”, one of the main characters is a struggling mother. She says she loves “the roller-coaster” of life.
 
Her husband, though, is struggling and not as happy. He focuses on the downs instead of the ups.
 
It’s How You Act
When you’re happy your actions lean toward the positive. You eat better, you move more, you think better thoughts.
 
Know that you have it in your power to be happy where you are in your life right now.
 
Thinking positive thoughts is not the be-all and end-all of happiness. It’s having your needs met, yes.
 
But it’s not about having everything, or even the best. It’s about being satisfied with what you have while also being able to work toward the things you want.
 
It starts with your thoughts. And it manifests with your actions.
 
JohnK 12-24-2019
 
stick figure talking about happinessOverheard: “If thou wilt make a man happy, add not unto his riches but take away from his desires.”
                                                         ~Epicurus
 
 

 

 

Article Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay  
 
 
disclaimer about happiness
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Learn the Facts Before Passing Judgment

November 26, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
 
Mark Twain once said, “facts are stubborn things.” And GenuLines knows that not checking the facts can kick you like a stubborn mule!
 
Banner helps with facts 

Learn the Facts Before Passing Judgment

Adversity often occurs when people react without having all the facts. Sometimes, they’ll think they have the facts but they’ve learned the wrong information.
 
Avoiding these situations is a matter of getting the facts and making sure they”re correct.
When you have the facts on your side, you can present your argument.
 
Magnifying glass finds fact
 
Further, you will be less likely to make a judgment about a situation because the facts back it up. This will prevent you from getting yourself and others into any trouble.
 
The internet offers us a vast pool of information. But people tend to be too willing to trust any information they find.
 
They get a false sense of security, believing that the first search engine results are the best. That’s not always the case.
 
Search engine results change with time. You can get different results from one search to the next on the same search engine.
 
Look for a variety of sources that you believe carry authority.
 
For instance, when you look for medical advice, don’t stop at a site such as WebMD.com and call it quits. While this website may have qualified advice, it’s not the only source.
 
Another could be the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA) website.
When you find other websites, look for sources that the articles cite.

Are they valid sources?

Check to make sure they’re from authoritative people.
 
Watch for red flags. Like blogs that make claims but don’t cite sources.
 
Anyone can create a blog, and have it published in minutes. They’re free to publish whatever they like.
 
That’s why readers must be critical of every source they treat as fact.
 
There’s nothing wrong with a blogger posting an obvious opinion piece. But, don’t accept the post as fact.
 
Treat it as a good starting point for your research.
 
You’ll hear people cite Wikipedia.org as a source for their facts. While that resource has gotten better at fact-checking, don’t lose sight that anyone can add and make changes to it.
 
Still, it does have some uses. At the end of most articles, there’s a wealth of resources and links that authors often include.
 
Use them for further research.
 
JohnK 11-26-2019
 
 
stick figure listening for factsOverheard: “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”
                            ~Arthur Conan Doyle (The Boscombe Valley Mystery)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Post image by Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

 
 
 
disclaimer about facts

Does Your To-Do List Work For You?

November 19, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
A to-do list can help keep order in your life. But does your list make the grade?
 
This GenuLines overview will help you get up to speed.
 
Banner helps make to-do lists

Does Your To-Do List Work For You?

picture of to-do list
 
The to-do list is a helpful tool. Something is satisfying about checking off an item when completed.
 
It can also be a reference when a boss wants to know employees’ progress. But, are you doing the right tasks to meet your longer-term goals?
 
 
 
That can leave you feeling as though you aren’t progressing.
 
Worse, you’ll be going through the motions of “doing something.” This will make the process of not getting anywhere that much more frustrating.
 
To-do lists are a good idea. But, you need to make sure they’re in-line with your goals.
 
You should consider taking a top-down approach to your tasks rather than bottom-up.

Start with your long-term goals

picture of to-do listWhere do you see yourself in a few years from now? If you can’t answer that question, you need to do some soul-searching.
 
Find what you want to accomplish at a high-level. Then, you can use that to break it down into granular tasks.
 
 
Finally, you use the mid-level tasks to help define the to-do list that you use daily. People put off setting long-term goals because the time frame seems so far in the future.
 
How can you be expected to know what’s going to happen five to ten years from now? It’s much easier to choose the shorter-term time frames.
 
You can measure what happens two weeks from now as it’s going to happen soon.

Commitment

picture of to-do listSome people believe that declaring a long term goal and chiseling it in stone commits them to it. Remember that circumstances can change, and goal adjusting may be called for.
 
Don’t be afraid to commit to your goals. You may want to create a few long-term goals.
 
 
As you’re working on what it will take to reach those goals, you can decide which path makes the most sense. You can take into account both feasibility and costs.
 
Some goals become unattainable for one reason or another, so prepare to change course. In fact, if you can project these possibilities, you can put them on your list of goals.
 
Set your goals and break them down into sub-tasks. Creating your to-do lists will become easier.
 
And, they’ll get you closer to accomplishing your goals.
 
JohnK 11-19-2019
chiforyourself.com home
 
stick figure talking about to-do listsOverheard:  “The best cure for a sluggish mind is to disturb its routine”
                                             ~William H. Danforth
 
 

 

 

 

 

disclaimer to fit with to-do lists

 

 

Possessions: Do They Have a Hold On Your Life?

October 29, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Collecting possessions is a part of life. It’s hard to deny.
 
Or, avoid for that matter.
 
GenuLines invites you to read on and to gauge the importance of your possessions.
 
 
Banner about possessions
 

Possessions: Do They Have a Hold On Your Life?

You spend a good chunk of your time protecting your possessions. You worked hard for them, so you want to make sure no one takes them from you.
 
picture of possessionsThe problem is, you may be putting too much emphasis on them.
 
Consider that when you take your last breath those articles are no longer yours.
 
 
 
So you could say they never really belonged to you anyway.
 
You may be thinking of passing on your possessions to your offspring. But consider the cost of acquiring those material items.
 
And I’m not just talking about financial costs.
 
Ask yourself if you’re stepping on other peoples’ toes while chasing those things. Your relationships are much more important than your possessions.
 
Suppose you somehow lost some material item you valued.
 
Let’s say you misplaced it, or it was stolen. Most likely you can replace it.
 
Inconvenient? Yes. But it’s not the end of the world.
 
The death of a family member is something else again. Don’t take loved ones for granted.
 
The memories they give you are possessions of the priceless type.
 
There are other ways to lose those close to you. Your busy work schedule can alienate family members.
 
Your spouse may decide to move on. And your kids may grow to resent you.
 
Focusing on material possessions can affect your friendships, too. Many of these friendships took a long time to develop.
 
But, you can lose them in no time if you prioritize your possessions.
 
Your attitude about money calls for the same kind of mindfulness. But, you don’t want to make it your life’s purpose
 
You can always make money somehow.
 
Friendships? Not always the case.
 
If you find you’re too focused on obtaining money and possessions, take a step back. Think about what your family and friends mean to you.
 
You’ll find they’re priceless.
 
JohnK 10-29-2019
 
stick figure talking about possessionsOverheard:  “An object in possession seldom retains the same charms which it had when it was longed for”

                                            ~Pliny The Younger

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Image by C.M. Zijderveld from Pixabay

 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer to describe possessions

Adversity And Life Coaches: Should You Buy In?

October 22, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
At certain times in your life, you find yourself weighed down by adversity. You wouldn’t mind having another “hand on the wheel.”
 
GenuLines looks at life coaches and whether one is right for you.
 
Banner to face adversity
 

Adversity And Life Coaches: Should You Buy In?

Good life coaches work to help you with various aspects of your life. They can show you the parts that are holding you back.
 
fighting adversityThey can also help you when you face adversity. And they can give you the guidance you need to help you pick up the pieces and get back on track.
 
They may start by teaching you to be positive. Techniques can include affirmations to retrain your brain to think positive thoughts.
 
 
 
That’s one of the biggest means to deal with adverse situations. Positivity won’t shield you from hard times, but it will help you focus on what’s important.
 
You need to practice these affirmations for them to be effective. It’s not a casual exercise that you do whenever the mood strikes.
 
Make it a daily habit. Your mentor will know if you’re not practicing them.
Prepare for the truth
The truth hurts, but it may be what you need to get through your situation. You’ll hear it when you get caught up in blaming others and not taking responsibility.
 
A good coach will present it in such a way that you’ll come to the conclusions yourself. And that makes it easier for you to accept and counter the action.
 
Don’t be quick to blame the life coach if things don’t work out (This assumes you chose a qualified coach)
 
It’s not difficult to find a good coach if you take the right steps. Check the internet.
 
Do a bit of digging to learn about each coach’s background. Coaches are going to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone.
 
Most coaches will use this to help clients break away from bad habits and form new ones.
 
It’s called a comfort zone for a reason. It will be awkward, and at times, you may get angry at their suggestions.
 
One thing to keep in mind. If your adversity was born out of trauma a life coach may not be a good idea.
 
If this is the case, seek out a qualified professional.
 
Your life coach is still an option for working with with other aspects of your development.
 
JohnK 10-22-2019
 
stick man working through adversityOverheard: “There is no education like adversity”
                                 ~Benjamin Disraeli
 
 
 
 
 
 

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

 
 
disclaimer to help you through adversity
 
 

Your Children May Not Trust Themselves

October 8, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
 
You say you don’t trust yourself? Did you know that the same feelings can filter down to your kids too?

banner to help you trust yourself

Your Children May Not Trust Themselves

Lack of self-trust is far from uncommon. It’s possible that you developed this tendency while you were growing up.
 
picture that promotes trustYou can pick it up as a kid and carry it into your adult life. You pass it on to your kids, and they do the same to theirs.
 
Your actions and exchanges may be subtle. Your kids will hear what you and your spouse talk about as well as discussions by, or with, other family members.
 
You may well do things that you’re not even aware of, but your kids will pick up on those, too.
 
 
 
It’s a difficult situation because you want your kids to be safe. But you don’t want to suggest that they give a pass to everyone without question.
 
A delicate balance
Trusting yourself requires trusting others. That’s where the difficulty can creep in.
 
You’ve likely been burned by a few people enough times to warrant your caution. But, these experiences can also resonate with your children.
 
Aim for a balance. You want them to trust certain people while remaining mindful through the process.
 
Of course, you want to teach your kids always to be trustworthy themselves, even if others don’t respond in kind.
 
Minus that, self-trust will be near impossible.
 
If they let others down, they won’t have any reason to develop an internal trust. So you and your partner will want to doublecheck your own trustworthiness.
 
You may be trustworthy toward kids but not to other people. That can send the wrong signals to kids if you tell them they should be trustworthy to others.
 
It will leave them confused and unsure of what to do. In the long run, they’ll be untrustworthy, and they won’t develop self-trust.
 
Be sure to talk to your kids to help them develop the balance between caution and trust. If they have questions, be open to answering them.
 
Try not to take offense if they say you’re sending mixed signals with regards to trust. Find a balance and your kids will likely find it too.
 
Your family will have the necessary means to trust each other and yourselves. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
 
You just have to keep at it.
 
JohnK 1-8-2019
 
 
stick man learning to trustOverheard:  “Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks.”
                                          ~Isaac Watts
 
 
 
 
 
Picture of a book to trust in
 
 
Banner to help you trust
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer to help you trust
 
 

Handle Adversity: Consider Opposing Viewpoints

September 17, 2019 John Uncategorized No comments
Adversity can bring you opportunity- an opportunity to do your homework! GenuLines helps you get an edge by looking at all sides of an issue.
 

call to action for adversity

Handle Adversity: Consider Opposing Viewpoints

Adversity often grows out of misinformation about a situation. You know the information might not be true but you act on it as if it was.
 
A good way to counter this situation is to take the other end of an argument or the opposing viewpoint.
 
 
two men showing antagonismFirst, consider the people you have an issue with and learn more about them. Do you disagree with their political views?
 
Or do you have some other bias against them? For instance, religion can bring out different standpoints and beliefs.
 
 
 
 
For the sake of discussion, we’ll call your opposition adversaries. You’ll need to find out more about them.
 
The internet is a good place to start. If you get stuck go old school. Visit your local library and ask the reference librarian.
 
They specialize in research and they can help you.
 
Get A Read on Things
Read material that you normally would not. Do this even if you’re not facing an adversarial situation.
 
It gets you in the mindset of accepting differences in others. You can look for magazines and books, or you can view blogs and forums related to the topic you want to learn.
 
You aren’t required to agree with adversarial topics. You only want to learn more about them so that you have information on your side.
 
Back your arguments with information. This will make it tougher to challenge you because you can cite your sources.
 
Play devil’s advocate when approaching any subject. Try to pose questions that your adversaries would pose. See if you can understand why they would pose those questions.
 
It may get you to rethink your own beliefs.

What were they thinking?

It’s also important to understand the motivations of your adversaries. Here’s an example. Fundraisers sometimes use a lot of hype to get you to buy into their message.
 
When this happens, knowing the facts will help you make your decision.
 
Try to stay away from name-calling since this never solves the problem. You’ll come off as petty.
 
And you might strengthen your adversary’s position.
 
It’s okay to argue with people when you have the facts on your side. But, some people won’t accept those facts no matter how hard you try to get them to consider them.
 
When this happens, there isn’t much you can do but walk away.
 
JohnK 9-17-2017
 
 
stick figure hearing about adversityOverheard: “Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them”
                                ~ Washington Irving
 
 
 
get quotes about adversity
 
animated man talks adversity
 
 
Banner to combat adversity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer concerning adversity
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