Happiness and Experiences
12 Aug
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman starred in the 2007 film The Bucket List that was directed by Rob Reiner. Simple plot: mechanic meets billionaire in the intensive care unit of a hospital – both diagnosed with terminal cancer. They create a “bucket list” of activities they want to experience before they die. Examples: skydiving, tattoos, see the pyramids, visit the Taj Mahal, and go on safari.
So, the obvious question is what is on your bucket list? Sky diving? White water rafting. A sunset over a particular body of water? Visit a particular town or country?
New research has actually found that experiences are more important to happiness than buying material possessions. The research was published in the January edition of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology by Cornell psychology professor Tom Gilovich. The research indicates that our memories are a much more essential component to our emotional well being than our purchases. This indicates that while money can’t buy you happiness, money spent on experiential purchases perhaps can. Spending money on material goods only brings short-term happiness, while experiences provide greater satisfaction long term. We retain the fond memories of our experiences in our head and heart, and in fact, they become even more valuable with time.
In the movie, one needs to be very wealthy to partake in those bucket list experiences. But money does not have to be the determining factor. Time, commitments, fear – there is a laundry list of potential reasons and excuses to stay home. But, with creativity, commitment, and courage, we can all begin taking on our own bucket list.
Try it – it will make a significant contribution to your happiness quotient.
Questions
What have you always wanted to experience in life? Why not so far?
Where have you always wanted to travel? When is it scheduled?
If not now, when?
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Mark Twain







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