Resolutions? I have one

[luckykaa]

My aim for this time next year.

• Be happy.

It's not that I've been particularly unhappy as such. But I've been sort of cruising along in a mood ranging from reasonable content to pretty grumpy. Happiness is something I've been neglecting.

I'm not totally certain how to get from here to there though. I'm not really sure exactly what it is that makes me happy. I seem to have been pretty content when I first started contracting - despite the excessive hours and high stress. Wasn't so happy when I was in Cheltenham, mainly because I was getting very lonely. Going back further, I was really happy when I was with sospan_fach. And back further when I first started in the games industry.

I also loved doing the IDP camp stuff. Having to work was such a pain.

So it seems what I really need is to surround myself with awesome people and doing something I actually give a flying something about. Working on a crappy app that I wouldn't buy for a multinational I wouldn't buy from isn't the right career for me.

Comments

[nayela.livejournal.com]

As you said to me earlier, the key is knowing what you *want* to do. :D

*hides under a rock*

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

I stand by it.

Doesn't mean it's easy. But if you haven't even got a goal, you'll never get there:)

[masterofapath.livejournal.com]

Ahh... now there lies the tricky bit.

Strictly speaking though I believe your resolution is fatally flawed. Happiness is a passing moment, not a permanent state.

If all you seek is a moment of happiness, that is easy. Take a cherished memory and delight in it for a moment. Job done.

The closest you can really get is to make your resolution more like "To spend more time doing the things I know or think will make me happy, and less time doing the things that make me unhappy".

Of course no matter what you do it will never be perfect. You'll end up doing some things that don't make you happy, that's just a fact of life. You'll probably miss out on some things that you don't think would make you happy, but that actually would.

Finding your true goal is a great idea, but possibly over rated. Do remember that you don't have to have one, you are allowed to change your goal at any time, and even if you have one it's worthless if you don't formulate a strategy for how you'll get there and then keep on pursuing it.

[cath-er-ine.livejournal.com]

The Science of Happiness

http://lesswrong.com/lw/4su/the_science_of_happiness/?gclid=CN7rhtqz9bUCFfLLtAoduzUAqQ

[penguin-worship.livejournal.com]

Have you thought about using your IT skills for a role with a charity? Just thinking that, that might be the kind of employer you would enjoy working for?