Happy Free Thoughts Thursday, people.

I have a book suggestion for you this week: The Course of Love by Alain de Botton.

It tells the story of a couple, but instead of starting when they meet and ending when they get married, it starts when they get married and ends when they pass away.

It dispels the Disney "happily ever after" myth forever. It tells the truth about the difficulties of marriage and relationships. It's awesome.

As usual, I listened to the audiobook. Highly recommend.

1 Thought From Me:

“Beware of destination addiction. The idea that happiness is the next place, the next job, or the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it'll never be where you are.”

— Carl Jung

Somewhere along the way many of us, including myself, fell victim to the belief that once we get something or arrive somewhere, then we’ll be happy.

But as we get older we start to realize how backwards that belief really is.

Happiness is not about getting more. It's about wanting less.

This is a delicate balance because it requires us to simultaneously work towards our goals, which live in the future, and practice gratitude for where we are in the present.

This balance is crucial.

People tend to sacrifice the moment for an idealistic vision of the future, and then once that future arrives they look around and wonder where all of their time went.

This is something many "successful" people talk about. They spend their lives working hard to attain something like money or fame and once they get it they realize they're the same person they've always been.

They don't feel any different. They just have more money or attention, or whatever else they were chasing after.

I am pro big goals and high aspirations and working hard to get what you want.

I am anti believing that accomplishing those goals, realizing those aspirations or getting what you want will bring you happiness.

The last thing we want to do is spend most of our lives chasing after things we think will make us happy, only to find out that happiness was right there with us all along, if only we would have looked.

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.” ― Jim Carrey

Don't wish time away hoping to uncover something that's hidden in plain sight.

Just look.

Live your life to the fullest,

Chris

P.S. Find this interesting it? Please share it with others!

Watch my videos on YouTube