Always…

Recently, I’ve been thinking about why we do things. I can come up with only two reasons: Either we anticipate that it will feel pleasurable in the moment. Or, we anticipate that it will make the future more pleasurable. (“Pleasurable” could also simply mean avoiding discomfort.)

Mindfulness may be an irritating buzz word, but if you’re anything like me, you don’t alway pay attention to what you’re doing. But I have noticed that, e.g. if after I work out (an activity I don’t look forward to), I really pay attention to the feeling of hormones rushing through my blood, my muscles relaxing, just the physiological experience of having worked out, that is much more pleasurable than I had ever noticed. And I think it’s important to pay attention to that, because then instead of thinking “working out sucks”, you may think “working out sucks, but feels pretty awesome afterwards”. Anyway, it didn’t really pertain to your topic, other than: You can actually influence your life experience by paying more or less attention to various things. And you can also influence it by looking back and reminding yourself of various things.