Change is coming
Voltaire wrote, "We never live; we are always in the expectation of living." Our eyes are trained ever forward, waiting for something to happen—dreading the bad, hoping for the good—and as a result, we miss the joy that's possible in the here and now.
And it's no wonder. Waiting is hard. Not only is it frustrating and difficult, it also engenders a sense of helplessness within us, as though we have no power over what happens next.
If you're feeling that way right now, and you're looking for a way to boost your motivation, there's a handy little science-backed trick that can make a big difference.
For there is a state very close to patience—one where you are still waiting for something to happen—that has a completely different emotional tone. That's the state of anticipation.
Unlike patience, anticipation is colored with excitement: something good is going to happen; there's joy just around the corner. In fact, some studies have found that anticipating an event can sometimes even be more enjoyable than the event itself.
Today, try this: consider what it would look like if you waited with anticipation instead of patience.
If you were anticipating... you would believe that good things were coming, and you'd feel excited and hopeful.
If you were anticipating... you would trust that changes were occurring, even if you couldn't see them quite yet.
If you were anticipating... you would enjoy the process of waiting rather than simply rushing to get to the end.
And wouldn't that be so much more enjoyable?
The Definitive Guide to Happiness
A groundbreaking new approach based on a decade’s worth of research and brought to life with beautiful artwork, New Happy shows you the proven path to happiness.
