I am more of a mental checklist kind of person. On the rare occasion when I do write a shopping list, I invariably forget that I had written it or where I had stored it in my phone. Wellness coach Alison T Smith believes that list obsession has something to do with the busyness of modern-day life. “Making lists has become more and more popular in recent years, especially for working parents, who are trying to pack more into their days,” she says. “People tend to have to wear many different hats throughout the day while holding down a full-time job.”
Are you the type of person who writes lists? If you are, then what is on your most important checklist? That list of things you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Does it contain exciting things to do? Places to visit, people to meet, and great feats to accomplish? Maybe it has some or all of the above! Are you prepared? Does your checklist have everything essential for a meaningful and happy life?
The bucket list
A bucket list is defined as a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. We all have a list of things we want to accomplish in our lifetime. The types of experiences or achievements that inhabit your bucket list are what helps to make your life more fulfilling, and meaningful.
I recently attended a wellness presentation during our Wellness Week of activities at work. The presenter Holly Christopher is a counselor at the university campus where I work. During Holly’s presentation, the one thing that stood out for me is how important it is to practice gratitude. Research shows that people who practice gratitude are more optimistic and feel better about their lives! My question is, should ‘practice gratitude’ appear on your bucket list?
Are you living a fulfilling and meaningful life?
To my mind happiness is essential for a fulfilling and meaningful life therefore it should be a priority for everyone! Have you heard that saying – “I would die with a smile on my face if…..”. This is said with irony because whatever follows the ‘if’ in the sentence is usually highly unlikely, but what if it is possible? Why couldn’t there be one item on your bucket list that would empower you to go happily to your grave after accomplishing? I believe we all have that one thing; it’s called being happy.
The problem most of us have is finding happiness. Is there a formula for happiness? Actually, yes there is! Psychologist Martin Seligman’s book Authentic Happiness posits that the Formula for Happiness is H=S+C+V, where (H) stands for happiness. It is the sum of three factors: one’s genetic set-range for happiness (S), their life circumstances (C), and factors under their voluntary control (V). There is a percentage allocation for each. According to Seligman, it is the factors under our voluntary control that dictates how happy we are.
Are you prepared?
Psychologists believe we can control our emotions and how we react to events and circumstances. We cannot change events that occurred in the past, but we have the ability to control the emotions we associate with the event. While strong negative emotions like fear or remembered pain can be very difficult to control, we can more easily control positive emotions. Some examples of positive emotions are optimism, hope, joy, and pleasure. According to Seligman, positive emotions about the past, present, and future determine how happy we are. What if positive thinking is the secret to a happy life?
I think we all have the fantasy of dying with a serene smile on our faces but are you prepared? Are you living a happy life now? If not, then maybe practicing gratitude and positive thinking is worth a try. Why don’t you add those to your bucket list? Those are on my mental checklist to do every day and it has made a tremendous difference in my life. Try it, maybe it would make a difference for you as well!
