Happiness by Design
Have you ever felt like you're constantly chasing the next thing that makes you happy, only to have it slip away and start the chase all over again? As multi-passionate individuals, we often find ourselves in this relentless pursuit, which can affect our health and well-being.
In seeking that fleeting happiness, we might turn to nicotine, sugar, alcohol, or even unhealthy relationships. These are just a few examples of how our pursuit of happiness can lead to temporary fixes that can have long-lasting effects on our physical and mental health.
Understanding Happiness
Psychology describes happiness as a state of emotional well-being experienced in specific moments or as a broader positive evaluation of one's life and accomplishments. Simply put, happiness is a person's response to what's happening.
Think about it. When you gain clarity on a new idea or project, you probably feel one of the seven types of happiness: joy, excitement, gratitude, pride, optimism, contentment, or love. It's a beautiful feeling you wish could last forever. But as explorers or multi-passionates, we know it will likely fade, and we'll be off searching for the next spark. It's just how we're designed.
Stop Searching and Start Living
Those here today, gone tomorrow happiness moments don't mean you're constantly searching for it. Happiness isn't hiding from you; you keep finding it over and over. So stop searching and start living.
The key is not to put pressure on your ideas and projects to always make you happy. Happiness can't be relied on through things beyond our control. And the truth is, one day, those projects will end or won't bring the same joy they once did. It's like the honeymoon phase; that new, exciting energy eventually wears off.
Since happiness is a state of mind created by cultivating positive beliefs, your open-mindedness and optimism for the unknown will help you stay positive when you're in between ideas or projects.
As explorers and multipassionates, you're designed to be fully present, enjoying each moment, knowing that while this new idea or activity excites you today, it might not always feel that way—and that's okay.
Explorative Energy and Lasting Meaning
Your explorative energy has you on a path to discovering that life is more than chasing happy moments. You already know that the feeling of being in your happy place can quickly be followed by the feeling of being displaced. This may have you constantly reflecting on how to connect with more than just what you're doing.
As multi-passionate individuals, we often find ourselves exploring various interests and projects. While this can be incredibly fulfilling, connecting our explorative energy to the four pillars of a meaningful life is essential. Each pillar helps ground us and gives deeper meaning to our journey so you can stay connected to something greater than what's happening.
The Four Pillars of a Meaningful Life
In her book The Power of Meaning and TED Talk, There's More to Life Than Being Happy, Emily Esfahani Smith introduces the four pillars of a meaningful life: belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling.
These pillars resonate with our multi-passionate energy, guiding us to find deeper fulfillment in our diverse pursuits. Let's explore how each pillar connects to our explorative energy, accompanied by journal prompts to enhance your reflection.
1. Belonging
Description: Belonging involves being part of relationships or communities where you feel seen, loved, heard, and cared for. When you belong to something beyond your projects or ideas, you create deeper connections with those around you.
Connection to Explorative Energy: As multi-passionate individuals, our interests may shift frequently, but the need for genuine connections remains constant. Being part of a supportive community allows us to share our diverse passions and feel understood.
Journal Prompt: Reflect on a time when you felt a strong sense of belonging. What aspects of that community or relationship made you feel seen and heard? How can you foster similar connections in your current projects and interests?
2. Purpose
Description: Purpose is about finding ways to help others. For multi-passionates, purpose isn't tied to specific actions but to the underlying 'why' behind those actions. It weaves through everything we do.
Connection to Explorative Energy: Our journey often involves helping and being a resource for others. By focusing on the 'why,' we can find purpose in various activities, allowing us to navigate multiple interests without losing our sense of direction.
Journal Prompt: What common thread runs through the activities and projects that light you up? How do these activities help others? Write about the 'why' that drives your passions and how it shows up in different areas of your life.
3. Transcendence
Description: Transcendence involves connecting with something bigger than yourself that links you to the world and people around you. For explorers, this can be meeting the right person at the right time, having an aha moment, or feeling grounded in nature. It's those moments when you feel a deep sense of connection to the world around you and realize that your place in it is significant and meaningful.
Connection to Explorative Energy: As we explore new interests, transcendence allows us to experience moments of awe and deep connection. These moments remind us of the bigger picture and our place in the world.
Journal Prompt: Describe a transcendent moment in your life. What were you doing, and how did it make you feel connected to something larger than yourself? How can you seek out or create more of these moments in your multi-passionate journey?
4. Storytelling
Description: Storytelling is about being the author of your own story. While staying true to the facts, tell your story with themes of redemption, growth, and love. Your story may change, but how you tell it matters most.
Connection to Explorative Energy: Our stories evolve as we explore new passions. Embracing the changes and telling our stories with positivity and growth helps us see the value in our diverse experiences.
Journal Prompt: Write a short story about a significant turning point in your life. Focus on how this moment led to growth and new opportunities. How can you use storytelling to celebrate your multi-passionate journey and inspire others?
You can find lasting fulfillment amidst your multi-passionate explorations by embracing the four pillars of a meaningful life—belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling. These pillars provide a solid foundation, allowing you to navigate your diverse interests with a sense of groundedness and deeper connection.
After all, happiness isn't about constantly searching for the next big thing; it's about cultivating a state of mind that embraces the journey.
