50 Ways to a Happy and Fulfilled Life | Part II
Your Answers…
Last week I posted '50 Ways to a Happy and Fulfilled Life | Part I'. And I asked what do YOU consider to be important ingredients to live a fun and fulfilling life, and to be happy. Some friends believe there are many ways, from more than the 50 to countless ways. The more philosophically inclined friends questioned the need to have so many. They believe that happiness is a mental frame (of mind) and nothing else. 'Facing good news is a blessing. Facing difficulties is an experience'. C'est la vie ~ That's life!
A Nobel Laureate Says…
Happiness and fulfillment (or satisfaction) in life, according to Daniel Kahneman, the psychologist who won the Nobel Prize for his work in behavioural economics , can be summed up thus : 'When you analyze happiness, it turns out that the way you spend your time is extremely important. Decisions that affect how much time you spend with people you like are going to have a very large effect on how happy you are – not necessarily satisfied with your life but happy.'
Imagine Life as a Game…
In his famous 30-second speech, Bryan Dyson , the former CEO of Coca Cola, wisely said : 'Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. They are Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.'
Life of Pi Survey…
The survey of 2,000 adults aged between 18 and 65 in the United Kingdom showed that love, family and travel were accorded more importance than money and fast cars to describe what they considered as essentials for a full and happy life. It is the Life of Pi survey, commissioned to launch the DVD and Blu-ray versions of the film.
How Did We Fare…
I hope you've enjoyed checking out which of the top 50 ways meant more for you. In my earlier post, I too had promised that I will evaluate mine and share my answers here in Part II of 50 Ways to a Happy and Fulfilled Life. Let's see how we fared against the top 50…
(Blue = done, Red = incomplete, Black = undecided)
- Stop worrying about money
- Stop worrying about what other people think
- Take two holidays a year
- Enjoy little comforts in life
- Experience different cultures
- Work to live rather than live to work
- Pay off all debts
- Be true to yourself
- Concentrate on what you have instead of what you don’t have
- Use money on experiences rather than saving for a rainy day
- Make time for family and friends
- Try all types of food
- Find true love
- Travel to at least 25 different foreign countries
- Go outside more
- Learn a new language
- Be well thought of by family and friends
- Help a member of your family out when they really need it
- Lose a stone in weight
- Treat each day like it’s your last
- Visit all of Britain’s historical landmarks
- Book an impulsive last minute holiday
- Volunteer for a good cause
- Take up a challenge
- Go on safari
- Blow a load of money in one shopping trip, just because you can
- Learn a new instrument
- Be married for longer than 20 years
- Have enough money left for the grandchildren to enjoy
- Start a family
- Earn more than your age
- Have a pet
- Drive a really fast car
- Travel alone
- Be able to keep the kids on the straight and narrow
- Meet strangers
- Move away from home to an unfamiliar place
- Have a one-night stand
- Pass your driving test
- Get a degree
- Rescue someone so that you’re a hero for a little while
- Date someone exciting but completely wrong for you
- Get a promotion
- Reach the desired career peak by age 40
- Have an all-night drinking session
- Perform something on stage in front of others
- Snog a stranger
- Plan a surprise party
- Embark on adrenaline packed activities such as sky diving or bungee jumping
- Spend time with children even if they aren’t yours
And of course, you have options too. For example, there are many ways you can experience adrenaline-driven activities, like flying in a Spitfire, bungee jumping, do a cavalry charge as in days of old or book a space flight. It's your choice…
I see that I have some way to go! According to the survey, only under one in four persons (or 23 per cent) think that they live life to the full. And the average person has ticked off just eight of the 50 achievements!
Related articles :
- 50 Ways To A Happy And Fulfilled Life | Part 1 (retiredowhat.com)
- The 50 ways to live life to the full. (The Daily Mail)
- 50 steps to a better life (Daily Express)
- 50 ways to live life to the full (Daily Mirror)
- The Fallacy of Money As A Means (life-longlearner.com)
- "Happiness is not a destination – is a way of life" (yoginiiyoga.com)
