It’s a given in the United States that happiness is a worthwhile goal – after all, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is perhaps the most famous phrase in the Declaration of Independence. The idea that we should all be happy has been stamped on our national character. Somewhere along the way, happiness became synonymous with leisure and the pursuit of leisure seems to have become an obsession.
If leisure and happiness have become inextricably linked, then why are so many people in our culture, many of whom have ample opportunities for leisure, unhappy? Part of the answer may lie in the way that leisure is pursued.
One type of leisure is passive. Most households boast multiple televisions with non-stop programming suited to every taste, requiring little more than a click of a button to unleash images and sounds that transport the viewer. Computers offer hundreds of diversions, from interactive games to chat rooms. Movies allow us to passively experience adventure, romance and danger. Another passive pursuit is gambling, which many states have now legalized. Recreational vehicles allow whole families to view the world from the comfort of a house on wheels.
The goal of passive leisure is contentment. But is contentment really all it’s cracked up to be? One human activity that generates the greatest feelings of contentment is eating. Physiologically, that makes sense. In the United States, we take for granted an abundance of food. But for many human beings in poor countries and for almost every other species on earth, the quest for food is vital to survival. So when our caveman brain senses that the quest has been successful and we’re eating, we experience the sensation of happiness.
Active leisure, on the other hand, involves participation, either mentally or physically. There are many games, from chess to cards, which provide mental stimulation. Hiking, yoga and bicycling all are active forms of leisure.
Studies conclusively confirm that challenging activities – whether in work or at play – that are just beyond our skill level engage our brains and make us feel most fulfilled when we successfully accomplish them.
When people are not engaged in challenging activities that engage their skills, they tend to grow bored, unhappy – and often turn to food to dispel the gloom. Emotional eating disorders are rooted in depression and boredom, and comprise a significant percentage of the obesity epidemic that plagues the nation.
Lasting contentment and positive self-esteem are achieved by engaging in a challenging activity, not in the fleeting pleasure of consuming a bowl of ice-cream. In order to remain on a weight-loss program, the following steps should be followed: Remove as much junk food from your pantry and refrigerator as you can. Restock with better health in mind. Consider using a BistroMD discount coupon or a Diet To Go coupon discount to have well-balanced, ready-to-serve meals delivered to your door. And then find the activity – whether skiing, horseback riding, bicycling, learning to play an instrument, walking or playing chess – that will challenge your physical skill sets and make you feel alive again.
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