When you eat delicious food, the first bite is truly tasty. However, by the end you are probably used to it. Likewise, if you have some background music in a room, you hear it at first, but then you get used to it and wouldn’t notice/think about it much later on. Interestingly, this theory also applies to happiness. Indeed, your brain gets used to everything and the reward center might stop firing. Yet if you are able to avoid this situation, you’ll definitely be happier – you will certainly stop taking many things for granted. The good news is international travel helps you achieve this. Let me explain.
- The best way to maintain a high level of happiness is contrast.
When you go to an exotic place, you feel the initial happiness (the contrast that you would surely feel in the first few days of a holiday). You love all the positive and exciting differences.
That’s why international travel offers great value. For example, recently I visited Spain and Belarus. These are dramatically different countries. In Spain, my happiness comes from the nice weather, the beautiful sea and the delicious food. By contrast, in Belarus, my happiness comes from the comfortable lifestyle, the friendly people and the relaxing walks in nature. I love both countries because of the differences.
Indeed, sometimes I want the Spanish sunshine; sometimes I need the Belarusian mindset. This contrast gives me tremendous joy even when I think about them, not to mention experiencing them first-hand. 😉
- It’s better to have a variety of happiness generators.
Some people derive happiness from one source. For instance, Amanda only had one happiness generator – her marriage. Consequently, when her ex-husband left her for another woman, she was depressed.
Ideally, you should have a wide variety of happiness generators, e.g., your career, your romantic relationship, your social circle, good books, international travel, etc.
Personally, I strongly believe that variety is the spice of life. Hence, I look after every area of my life. Also, I have at least one overseas trip each year for a refreshing experience – there is always something exciting that I’m looking forward to. 😊
I hope contrast helps you remain excited & various happiness generators keep you happy and content in life.
Different experiences add excitement to your life. How much do you value experiences in your life
