Experience Happiness in the New Year
Here we sit on the cusp of a New Year. Is it just us, or does time seem to go by faster as we get older?
We heard a theory about this that we want to share with you. We wish we could remember who told us this so we could give proper credit!
But it was some time ago and we’ve forgotten. Maybe we’re too old to remember!
But the answer seems particularly insightful. And helpful in understanding how time works.
Here’s the theory:
One year in the life of a 10-year old represents 10% of his or her life.
But it’s only 4% of a 25-year old’s days.
And once you hit 50, it represents just 2% of all your time on Planet Earth.
Ten percent is a pretty sizeable chunk. But 2% isn’t so large.
Imagine a game
To think about this in more tangible terms, assume you’re playing a game. The goal is to maximize your happiness.
The rules state that you have to work 50 hours a week, no more and no less. The rest of your time is for play, sleep, etc.
You fill the 50 hours with activities. You find equilibrium – just enough of each activity to maximize your overall happiness.
Then opportunity arises.
In the first case, the opportunity will require 10% of your time. So you have to give up 5 hours of your current activities. Otherwise, you won’t be able to capitalize on this opportunity.
That’s a lot. You may find it difficult to find 5 hours.
In the second case, the opportunity only requires 2% of your time. So you only have to give up 1 hour of current activities.
It’s a piece of cake compared to the first case, right?
It’s all downhill from here
BIGG success is life on your own terms. There are five elements of BIGG success – money, time, growth, work, and play.
You’re familiar with the saying, “It’s all downhill from here.” It can be interpreted two ways.
The first way is that things will only get worse. The second is that the worst is over.
The chart above illustrates how the game we just described is exactly how life works. It shows what we’re calling the Experience Factor over time.
The downhill curve is steep for the first decade of life. Then it starts leveling off. By the time you hit 40, there’s barely a noticeable change at all.
The good news is that you have so many experiences on your side. Ultimately, life comes down to relationships and experiences.
You have so much more to remember. So much more to cherish. So much more wisdom. So many more reasons to be happy!
So instead of lamenting another year, instead of bemoaning getting older, celebrate! Experience happiness by celebrating your experiences! Celebrate your life!
Here’s to your BIGG success next year! Happy New Year!
