Don’t Be Happy In Pockets
Optimize for happy
I recently came across a video from the My First Million YouTube Channel, featuring entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek. In the video, Dyrdek talks about the importance of not being “happy in pockets,” and it really resonated with me.
The phrase “happy in pockets” refers to being happy episodically, or in other words, not being happy most of the time.
It’s the kind of happiness that is temporary and has a time limit. And while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying fleeting moments of happiness, Dyrdek argues that it’s important to pursue sustainable happiness and to not settle for an unsatisfying life.
As he says, we should, “Optimize our lives for happiness.”
I couldn’t agree more.
It’s Not Good To Be Happy in Pockets (Here’s Why)
At first glance, it may seem like there’s nothing wrong with only being happy sometimes.
After all, happiness is a feeling, and feelings are by their very nature transient. So why not enjoy the good moments when they come and not worry too much about the rest?
Unfortunately, there are a few reasons why this approach to happiness is not sustainable in the long run.
- It’s important to feel positive emotions regularly in order to maintain our mental and emotional well-being.
- When we’re only happy sometimes, we’re stuck in less desirable emotions like sadness, anxiety, and frustration.
- Happiness is more than a feeling; it’s also a state of mind.
And like all states of mind, it requires some effort to maintain.
If you only allow yourself to be happy occasionally, you’re likely to find that it becomes harder and harder to access those feelings of happiness when you need them.
Finally, research has shown that happy people tend to be more successful, productive, and creative.
If we want to reach our potential, it’s important to focus on optimizing our lives for happiness, satisfaction, joy, and peace.
It’s Not About Becoming Delusionally Happy
Delusionally happy people are the ones who ignore all the red flags and pretend everything is perfect.
They’re in denial about their relationship, their job, and their life. And while it might seem like they’re happy on the surface, what they’re really doing is burying their head in the sand and refusing to face reality.
This might work for a little while, but eventually, the truth will come out.
And when it does, it will be even harder to deal with because they’ve been living in a fantasy world for so long.
“Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.” — Ayn Rand
Genuine happiness doesn’t mean that you’re always smiling and skipping through life — it means that you’re able to face difficult times with strength and resilience.
Delusional happiness is a coping mechanism that might help you in the short term, but it’s not sustainable in the long term.
In this article, we’re talking about lasting happiness.
My Journey Out Of Happy Pockets
I used to only be happy in pockets.
I would feel joyful when I was loved or successful at my job or with my writing, but it never lasted. As soon as those things faded away, so did my happiness.
I was constantly chasing after momentary happiness, never finding anything that lasted.
I was searching for the next thing that would make me happy, and when I didn’t find it, I would feel disappointed and empty.
But then I realized that maybe I was looking in the wrong places. Maybe happiness wasn’t something that I could find externally. Maybe it was something that I had to create for myself.
Maybe it’s a state of mind that can be cultivated through self-love, gratitude, and mindfulness.
“Happiness is dependent on self-discipline. We are the biggest obstacles to our own happiness. It is much easier to do battle with society and with others than to fight our own nature.” — Dennis Prager
Now, rather than chasing temporary happiness, I am focused on creating a lasting sense of well-being. And slowly but surely, my happiness began to transform.
It became more consistent, more enduring.
My happiness is no longer something that comes and goes with the ebbs and flows of life. It is something deeper, something richer, that I often hold onto, no matter what happens around me.
And that has made all the difference.
How To Optimize for Happy
You only have one life to live, so you might as well make it a happy one.
It’s not always easy to feel joyful and content, but there are things you can do to increase your happiness quotient.
Rob Dyrdek approached life optimization like an analytical genius. He conducted a series of life experiments, measured everything, clocked his time, and shuffled activities around until he reached peak happiness.
Here’s what he did:
- He tested a bunch of different activities like exercise, meditation, and working all day.
- He also measured and logged how long he engaged in each activity.
- Finally, after each activity, he rated his happiness on a scale of 1–10 (1 being low and 10 being high).
- He kept iterating his schedule and tracking all the data on a spreadsheet until he figured out his maximum happiness quotient.
Rob sleeps for approximately 7 hours a day, works 7 hours, and rests for 10 hours per day.
He’s tested different lengths of time for sleeping and work.
This schedule keeps him at his happiest (and most productive). Each day is regimented by a schedule of meditation, exercise, meeting with his business teams, and spending quality time with his family.
However, his schedule might not produce the most happiness for you.
To optimize your life for happiness:
- Track everything on a spreadsheet for 30 days
- Try different activities and lengths of activities
- Write down what you do and how long you spend doing it
- Rate your happiness level after each activity, set of activities, and at the end of each day
- At the end of a month, look for patterns in your data
- Calculate your “happiness average” (The sum of each day’s happiness rating divided by the number of activities rated. So, if you did 5 activities, you’d add up the ratings for each of the five separate activities and then divide that number by 5)
- Keep changing your schedule until you max out your happiness
- Test everything and remain flexible
Here are a few things to try.
For starters, it’s important to take care of yourself holistically. Eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly are all key components of physical well-being.
It’s also important to nurture your mind and soul.
Meditation, journaling, and spending time in nature can help you to feel more centered and at peace.
Additionally, pursuing your passions is essential for a sense of fulfillment.
Whether you enjoy painting, hiking, or simply spending time with loved ones, make sure to carve out time for the things that make you happy.
Final Thoughts
By making small changes in our lives, we can create a larger impact on our happiness and satisfaction levels.
“The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.” — Ashley Montagu
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