As humans, it’s only natural that we desire to grow and progress. ​ However, the types of goals we pursue can determine whether we feel fulfilled or empty after accomplishing them. ​ It may be worth asking yourself if the thing you’re chasing right now is ultimately superficial or fulfilling? ​ Some goals give us a big bump of dopamine, but are short-lived (think buying a new fancy car)... ​ Other goals result in enduring changes to who we are fundamentally (think getting in shape)... ​ How do we differentiate these pursuits? ​ I think the answer lies in the reasoning behind our desire to achieve the outcome… ​ Is the motivation to achieve driven by external judgements or an internal desire to improve? ​ If you want to get in shape so that other people are impressed, you’re striving after the wind… ​ If you want to get in shape, so that you have more energy and confidence, you’re pursuing internal growth… ​ If you work ridiculously long hours to build wealth, just so that you can have the “nicest” car and house on the block, you’re striving after the wind… ​ If you work ridiculously long hours to build wealth, so you can experience the privilege of financial security/freedom, you’re pursuing internal growth… ​ The goals can be almost identical, but the purpose behind them changes the resulting feelings… ​ Superficial goals result in short-lived hits of dopamine; purposeful goals create a positive change in who you are. ​ What is something you are chasing to improve others’ perception of you? ​ And how might you be able to shift that into something more internally gratifying? ~Practical Mindfulness Blog #151

We all work different amounts… ​ We all have different responsibilities… ​ Some of us don’t have the time to dedicate to extensive mindfulness practices… ​ And that’s ok… ​ Because consistency will always beat intensity. ​ Even if your schedule is packed full to the brim… ​ We all have some small moments where we can integrate a little mindfulness… ​ That may be taking the bus to work without headphones, and just noticing the passing views and architecture… ​ It may be waking up 10 minutes earlier than usual to do 10 minutes of stretching before anyone else is awake… ​ It could be a 2-minute breathing practice in your car before you head into work… ​ It could be indulging your full attention in your food on your lunch break… ​ Or maybe swapping out scrolling reels before bed for a guided sleep meditation. ​ The busier we are, the more creative we need to be to integrate a mindfulness practice, but at the same time… ​ The busier we are, the more we will benefit from some intentional disengagement from the stressors of modern life. ​ ~Practical Mindfulness Blog #150

Without a reason for being in the modern world, we quickly become lost and jaded… For previous less privileged generations, their purpose was clear: earn enough money to survive and support a family… For most of us, having enough money for the absolute essentials is no longer a cause for concern; this societal progression is obviously a blessing, but it has left our generation with a huge problem… “What now?” I propose a 4-part approach to purpose, based on the Bio-psycho-social(-spiritual) model of psychology: ​ Biological: Our biological purpose is to procreate and raise children. This desire is ingrained in the primitive centres of our brain for evolutionary advantageous reasons… Hence, why some people find purpose in earning loads of money, and others do not… Seeing yourself as “the provider” for your children is a lot more fulfilling than simply making a number on a screen increase. Psychological: Our psychological purpose is to be happy. As children, we play without anyone telling us we should or that we need to; it’s natural to our being. Our brains are even wired to become addicted to things we find fun and stimulating (this same system has been hijacked by “reels” content, which is why it’s so addicting). Social: Our social purpose is to provide value to others, which most of us do through our jobs… Some jobs make us feel like a cog in the wheel, not really making a difference in anyone’s life… While other jobs provide a clear, direct view of how we are helping others. Some jobs are inherently shallow and unfulfilling (think day trader), while others are directly impactful (think nurse)... Others require a bit of mental gymnastics to connect to the bigger picture (think accountant, who manages the money of an organisation that is making a positive impact). Spiritual: Our spiritual purpose depends on what teachings you want to subscribe to… For some religions, life is a test of will and morals; for others, it’s a relinquishing of ego…

The pursuit of any goal will inevitably result in struggles and failures... All relationships have fights… All athletes have injuries… All businesses receive bad reviews… Accepting this reality allows us to prepare for these struggles while simultaneously eliminating some of the fear that naturally arises when pursuing a goal… But if we can almost guarantee some amount of failure will occur, why would we tie our sense of self-worth to the achievement of these goals? ​ Committing to the idea that “I’ll be happy when I achieve ___” is guaranteeing an element of suffering… And this is completely unnecessary… We don’t need to punish ourselves into a feeling of motivation; we can cultivate that feeling by having a good reason to pursue the goal. Pursuing a promotion in your career to “prove” to others that you’re capable, intelligent, or hardworking enough, is good fuel for motivation… But if you don’t achieve the promotion (which is under someone else’s control), you’ve resolved that the reason is because you’re “not ___ enough”... Alternatively, you could pursue the same goal, not to prove your worth to others, but to earn more money to provide a better life for your (future) family… This greater purpose will still fuel your motivation, but when things go wrong (and they are bound to go wrong at some point)... You don’t suffer because you’ve not tied your self-worth to the outcome. ​ ~Practical Mindfulness Blog #148

At this moment, your mental well-being could be at any point on the spectrum… Perhaps you’re in the depths of depression, or maybe you’re feeling stuck in Groundhog Day… Maybe things are just fine, and you’re lacking passion for life… Wherever you are at right now, understand that this mental state doesn’t have to be permanent. The path to happiness exists; we just need to identify what that path looks like for you and your current circumstances. ​ Why aren't you flourishing right now? What is holding you back? If we let it, our intuition is often great at identifying the biggest problem currently holding back our wellbeing… Perhaps it’s a lack of hope for the future due to the global conflicts… Maybe it’s a lack of quality sleep… Maybe it’s tying our self-worth to a career which has plateaued… Whatever it is for you, identifying the first step to improving your well-being, and then taking action, is the most important step you can take on your path to happiness... You don’t need to have the whole journey planned out; change happens one step at a time. ~Practical Mindfulness Blog #147