WHAT IS DEFERRED HAPPINESS SYNDROME?
The Deferred Happiness Syndrome occurs as a result of poor time management. It manifests when your responsibilities take precedence, causing your desires to be pushed aside.
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The adverse emotions stemming from this detrimental habit can have repercussions on your performance and, furthermore, on your personal and professional relationships. It's possible that this syndrome could even lead to a transformation of your personality. Hence, understanding the importance of maintaining a balance between your responsibilities and activities that bring you joy is crucial. You should avoid letting the former overshadow the latter.
Happiness belongs to the category of "positive emotions" due to its favourable impact on your physical wellbeing and interpersonal relationships. You could describe happiness as the feeling of contentment that lingers and is not easily disrupted. Typically, happiness surfaces after achieving a goal or relishing a pleasurable experience. It may appear that happiness is always a positive emotion, but that's not always the case. While its effects may seem beneficial, exercise caution, as your mind may deceive you.
People experience a fleeting sense of happiness (or at least pleasure) when they imagine, reminisce about, or long for joyful moments. However, this fleeting illusion of happiness dissipates quickly and can subsequently transform into frustration or even stress.
Symptoms of deferred happiness syndrome
You're perpetually in search of something superior. Satisfaction with your accomplishments eludes you, and you consistently identify room for enhancement. Consequently, you tend to diminish your past achievements.
An obsession with money consumes you, and you diligently save every penny with the intention of using it "when the need arises." However, that opportune moment never materialises, as no significant emergency arises to warrant its expenditure.
Fear and the fear of failure dominate your thoughts. This fixation is so potent that you opt to remain in your current circumstances rather than risk personal, social, or professional advancement.
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How to deal with deferred happiness syndrome
Reorganise Your Priorities
The solution lies in rearranging your priorities to accommodate the truly significant aspects of your life. These aspects may not always align with what you perceive as urgent. Therefore, you must establish priorities and allocate time for your passions. In simpler terms, you need to acknowledge that there is room in your life for enjoyment. It's not solely about enduring hardship and making sacrifices, even though you may believe that these sacrifices will ultimately lead to your desired outcomes.
Consequently, yearning for happiness is likely to prompt you to take necessary risks, which are crucial for personal progress. If you systematically avoid all risks, you will inevitably compromise your quality of life. This is because self-imposed limitations severely restrict your scope for movement.
Concentrate on What Brings You Joy No one is entirely devoid of happiness. We all possess something in our lives that makes existence meaningful, and this aspect of humanity is quite intriguing. Cease projecting happiness into the future and, instead, embrace the present moment. Doing so will facilitate the changes you both desire and require.
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we should be living for Now
In a world filled with distractions, responsibilities, and the constant pursuit of future goals, it's all too easy to overlook the importance of living for the present moment. Yet, embracing the here and now can profoundly impact our wellbeing, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Living for the now allows us to fully appreciate the richness of life's experiences. When we immerse ourselves in the present moment, we become more attuned to the sights, sounds, and sensations that surround us. This heightened awareness enables us to savour the beauty of simple things, from a blooming flower to the warmth of a loved one's smile.
Constantly dwelling on the past or worrying about the future can lead to increased stress and anxiety. By focusing on the present, we can let go of unnecessary concerns and find relief from the mental burdens that often plague us. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, are powerful tools for cultivating a calmer and more centred state of mind.
Living for the present moment is not about neglecting responsibilities or disregarding future goals. It's about finding a harmonious balance between planning for the future and fully embracing the present. By doing so, we can enjoy a richer, more fulfilling life filled with gratitude, mindfulness, and meaningful connections with the world around us. The present moment is where life unfolds, and it's a place well worth residing in.