I heard on the news recently that a study found that good memories and experiences make people happier than material things. This was no surprise to me! The study went on to say that although a person may get a "high" while making a purchase, it's short-lived. However, when a person goes on a vacation or takes part in some positive life experience, the good memories last a lifetime and actually change the brain's function when remembering those good times.
Our recent vacation to the Virgin Islands will always give us "good feelings"!
This study just confirms what Ken and I have always knew ... life is about experiences, and experiences don't require the latest gadget or "the best". I think that's why we're so excited (and antsy) to start our cruising dream. We want to live simple, explore the world, enjoy the wildlife, and enjoy the experiences we'll have with lots of different people. In my opinion, to really feel fulfilled one must have relationships ... not only with people, but with the environment!
So, the next time you're tempted to make an impulse buy (again) and grab that awesome outfit, jewelry, or whatever your weakness is ... just remember that chances are you'll soon be needing another "fix". Don't buy it, and see if you even remember it the next week. Invest in life!
Hasta luego ... until then. Mid-Life Cruising!
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3 comments:
Gosh, your blog always looks so good.
Great post! This is very true and is really becoming a focus in psychology. The study of 'happiness' started with Martin Seligman, now known as the Father of Positive Psychology. I read one of his books as an undergraduate and it made a huge impression on me. Now you can get academic degrees in positive psychology.
Anytime we go shopping we are faced with all of the things we 'don't have'. It's better to think of all the things we 'do' have and be glad of them. We use a different part of our brain to do this, and it will help us when faced with those impulse purchases.
I am most guilty of this when looking at other boats. I hope we are able to make a good decision about boat buying so we don't get too caught up in the moment and make a decision we will regret later.
Don't you love psychology? I minored in it during college, and happiness is a way of thinking. We're staying positive!
BTW, I'm confident ya'll will make the right boat choice. You've already got a great sailboat, so you know what to look for!
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