The definition of happiness is "Having a theme you want to do for fun and doing it." In other words, to be happy, you need a theme you want to do for fun. But I think some people find this surprisingly difficult.
Finally, as a supplement, I've summarized how to find a subject you want to do for fun. I hope you use this as a clue to find a theme that suits you.
Happiness levels can be calculated by considering four indicators: excitement, growth, achievement, and memories. When searching for a theme that you want to do for fun, be aware that these four indicators will give you a high score.
When you think about these four indicators, growth, achievement, and memories are what you feel after the theme is executed. In other words, you don't know the score until you execute the theme. So when you look for a theme you want to do for fun, the most important thing is the feeling of excitement, where the score is determined by how you feel before executing it. Intuitively, if the thought of the subject excites you, the feeling of excitement is a high score. In other words, if you feel "excited" about something, it's well worth trying.
To find a subject that excites you, keep in mind these three perspectives:
① Subject matter and action
② Individual or multiple
③ Single subject or continuous subject
A subject matter is something you like. For example: soccer, travel, animals, theater viewing, eating pastries, etc.
An "action" is an action you like (or are likely to do), such as watching, cheering, playing, researching, collecting, creating, exchanging information, etc.
And the theme you want to do for fun becomes a combination of subject matter and action. In other words, there are as many "subject x action" as there are. With all this, can't you be hopeful that you might find a theme that suits you?
It's also important to get rid of stereotypical images of behavior toward the subject. For example, in soccer, playing, watching, cheering, collecting merchandise, and so on, would immediately come to mind as possible actions.
However, instead of this common-sense approach to involvement, you may find a great theme if you think more self-centeredly.If, for example, you like history, you like to research, and you like to travel, then a theme like touring related places with the concept of soccer history should appeal.
When you are conscious of combining subject matter and action in a free-thinking way, you will notice that there are many ways to enjoy a single theme.
Next, let's consider the viewpoint regarding the number of people who will enjoy the event, whether it will be executed alone, with friends, or with several people, such as in a circle.
For example, you can't play a soccer game alone, but you can travel alone or with multiple people.
Some people prefer one person, others prefer the bustling. There is also a style in which you basically enjoy alone and occasionally get together in groups to exchange information.
When deciding on a theme, it is also important to be aware of the number of people and how they relate to each other. Of course, depending on the theme, the number of people you need will vary, but it is also important to think about how to relate to people in a way that is comfortable for you.
The third point of view is whether it is a single subject or a theme that is supposed to continue.
For example, let's say "luxury travel" is a theme you want to do for fun. But it is difficult to do it often when you think about money and time. Happiness levels (scores for excitement, achievement, growth, and memories) may be a high theme, but if it's a one-off, the happiness score will also be a one-off. One way to think about it is to cut back on living expenses and put up with it for a while in order to carry out a one-off high scoring theme, but overall, you also want a theme that you can carry out continuously.
Of course, if money and time allow, it may be possible to implement a high-scoring theme each time, but familiarity with a theme can lead to a drop in your scores for excitement, achievement, growth, and memories. This is especially true of one-off, luxurious themes. In other words, if you aim to score high every time, you need to keep thinking of fresh themes. This may lead to the idea that being very wealthy does not necessarily mean being happy.
For example, if you have a theme like a casual hobby that you can keep doing, you will get a little more happiness points each time you perform it. Themes that you can keep doing will not only be fun each time, but you will also get a higher score for "achievement" and "growth" by learning the depth by continuing or becoming an expert on the subject. I think the ideal is to have both casual themes that you can keep doing and one-off, high-scoring themes that you do occasionally.
So far, we have considered three perspectives on the theme we want to do for fun. Next, let's find a theme that actually works for you.
First, make a list of your favorite things (subjects). Even if you don't like it for sure, it is OK to have a light feeling that you might like it, that it looks fun, or that it is popular and you would like to try it once.
With "excitement" in mind, write down what you like to do (subject matter) in a free-wheeling manner, for example:
・Go(traditional Japanese game)
・Whiskey
・Miyuki Nakajima (Japanese singer)
・Keirin(Bicycle race)
・Animals (Dogs, cats and horses)
・Portugal
・The Origin of the Universe
・Karaoke
・Philosophy
・Walking
・Mahjong(Japanese game)
・Western paintings
・Supplements
・Travel to the South(warm places)
・Cherry blossoms
・Garlic dishes
・Gardening
These are what I thought about for five minutes and actually came up with. I made the list in the order in which I thought of them, seeing things in my room as clues and looking back at the fun memories I have had in the past.
The next step is to match "actions" to these subjects. After some matching, the ones that sound fun and that you would like to try are candidates for the "themes you would like to do for fun".
The subject matter varies from person to person, but "action" is easy to understand based on the following example.
・play
・watch
・root for / support
・listen to
・examine
・record
・collect
・exchange information
・explore
・plan
・create
・eat and drink
For example, with the subject of Go(traditional Japanese game), you match actions to play, watch, root for/support, listen ・・・ eat and drink. Sometimes the subject and actions don't match, such as "listen to Go," but never mind. If it doesn't ring a bell, just skip it. By the way, "listening to Go" may sound strange, but there was actually an attempt to have people enjoy watching and listening to a game played by professional Go players set to music. The rhythm, atmosphere and strength of classical music were played along with the match of Go, and the music ended at the same time as the match ended. It was planned that Go players and musicians perform together on the same stage.
It is effective not only to match actions on one subject but also to combine subjects. For example, combining Go with whiskey, combining Go with Miyuki Nakajima (Japanese singer), etc. You may feel that the combination of Go and whiskey doesn't develop anything, but unexpected combinations can be fun themes.
Even if you have been looking at lists of hobbies on the Internet and thinking, "There is nothing in particular I want to do," if you think about creating a hobby around something you like, you will find a theme that suits you or that is innovative and unique.
The point is to try to connect the subject with the action and if you find something "exciting," stop and consider the various possibilities.
So far, I introduced how to find a theme you want to do for fun. If you find a subject that interests you, try it out. Even if it doesn't last long, it's OK. It makes sense to try things you care about.
However, some may still not feel comfortable with it, or may find it tedious to think about. For those people, I would like to suggest a few "what about this?" themes.
My first choice is to get a pet. Animals that you like are unconditionally adorable. There are many kinds of pets that you can heal just by looking at them, or play with them. And another good thing is that not only the pet but also the owner can grow together and feel a sense of joy and accomplishment in raising it.
Since you spend so much time together, you can make a lot of memories. Dogs in particular are highly communicative among pets. Because they can communicate, their hearts go together, and many people give dogs the same affection as they do in their families.In order to have a pet, you need to set some conditions. Because it is a living thing, it also comes with responsibilities. But if you can clear those things, you can feel a lot of happiness with your pet.
It's not exactly an alternative to your pet, but gardening is also a nice subject where you can feel the joy of nurturing. It takes time and effort to grow your favorite plants from seed. They may not grow as expected. However, when the flower blooms, it will be a great joy combined with the hard work that has been done and further expectations for the future.
Gardening also has the appeal of being easy to experiment with. Pets cannot be easily changed or increased, but plants can be enjoyed in a variety of ways because of their high degree of freedom.Growing your favorite vegetables and fruits for the purpose of eating them is also a lovely theme. It's a great value theme not only because of the joy of growing, but also because of the freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.
Japan has a long history. And there are many wonderful themes that have been familiar for a long time. For example, go, shogi, sumo, bonsai, waka, haiku, kabuki, craft, flower arrangement, and tea ceremony are just a few that come to mind. Or research history, get in touch with classical literature and art, or visit castles and temples and shrines are also nice subjects.
If you know and enjoy these wonders, you can confirm your identity as a Japanese. And it should also lead to pride and confidence in yourself.
You can take a slightly educated stance, so why not try it?
Sports are another subject that many people enjoy. Sports can be fun to watch, but what I recommend is actually exercising and enjoying sports. Everyone feels "good" when they exercise and sweat comfortably. And it has a positive effect on appetite enhancement and comfortable sleep. Moderate exercise also leads to healthy longevity.
The hardest part in sports is deciding what to do. For example, Soccer and baseball need to be on a team. You can't play table tennis or badminton alone. We also need to consider the necessary tools and location.
If it's hard to decide, I recommend signing up for a gym. It means getting into the habit of moving your body. In addition to weight training and running, some facilities have swimming pools and yoga classes.
Gyms should be designed to be long-lasting. In the beginning, your gym workouts will definitely grow as much as you did. It's also nice to know the results quantitatively, such as time and weight. A lighter body improves daily performance, and changes in body shape (appearance) also increase self-confidence. And once you gain some physical strength, you may want to challenge another sport.
Exercise never betrays you. It is also good to find an exercise routine that works for you, as continuous exercise will increase your cumulative happiness scores in the long run.
For those of you who are not good at exercise and would prefer not to sweat, I suggest becoming a philosopher. If you don't like to exercise, why not sweat your brains out instead of your bodies?
We can say that intellectual curiosity is a human instinct. Everyone experiences the "joy of knowing" on a daily basis. It is a joy to feel "I see!" or "That's what it was!".
What I recommend is to think about subjects that are not easily answered. These days, you can search the Internet for answers to many different things with just a quick search. You can satisfy a certain level of intellectual curiosity, but not enough to say that it is a subject you want to do for fun.
Think about the nature and truth of things, like a prominent philosopher. There are so many themes around you. For example, you can find philosophical themes that are hard to answer by looking at people laughing hard ("What is laughter"), angry bosses ("What is anger"), happy friends who hit the jackpot at a horse race ("About the causation and kind of joy"), or even just a little observation around you ("What is the ideal couple").
Once you get serious about these themes, your thoughts jump in different directions: "Is this idea universal?" or "What about this case?" or "Doesn't apply to XX" or "Is it the same for dogs and cats?" etc. Unlike work, there are no deadlines or evaluations. You can think for yourself. And once you have some idea, you can talk to someone close to you. There might be another opinion or new issue will be raised and further thought may be needed. But this is also the fun part.
Sweating your brain has the same sense of accomplishment as sweating through exercise. I thought about "what happiness is" intermittently for over a year as if I were a philosopher. It was a lot of fun when I took a walk alone and silently thought about happiness. And I would like to continue to further my thoughts on the subject with the help of various opinions.
I've introduced a lot of subjects you can do for fun. If you still don't feel right, or if all of them are too much of a hassle and you can't get off your backside, you can just "watch TV or YouTube."
The idea is that if you cannot take active action, you may as well be completely passive. But I have one piece of advice. Instead of watching a show that happens to be on air in your spare time, watch a show that you find enjoyable on an ongoing basis. Whether it's a drama, a variety show, an anime show, or a song show, if you find it enjoyable, record it so you can watch it continuously.
If you continuously watch a show that you find enjoyable, you'll have a different feeling than "just plain fun." You'll naturally see the intentions of the producers, the personalities of the talent, or what's in fashion.
If your interest amplifies and you want to watch it with a strong will, rather than a show you happen to want to watch, it becomes a good "theme you want to do for fun."
TV and YouTube are very easy because you only need to watch them. I think it's nice to be easy and fun. And since TV and YouTube also send out information that leads to the discovery of trends and hobbies, you may unexpectedly come across a theme that you would like to do for your own enjoyment.
The last idea is to leave it to your friends. As with TV, it's about other-power, but you can expect a great deal from a friend who knows you well and cares for you.
Instead of rationally identifying a theme from a variety of conditions like a consultant solving a problem, it's more about intuitively finding a theme that your friends can enjoy together while being aware of your personality and aptitude. The benefit is that you don't have to think for yourself and you can enjoy it with your friends.
The important thing to keep in mind is that since your friend had a good thought of what suits you, you should accept it unless you really don't like it.If you keep denying your friends' suggestions, he will get tired of it. It happens often that even if the first impression is low, it is more enjoyable than imagined when actually trying it out. Dislike without trying can cause you to miss out on the happiness in front of you.
A theme executed with friends will surely be fun for them too. In other words, delegating to your friends can contribute to their happiness as well as your own.
I'd like to say a few words about whether "making money" can be a theme you like to do for fun.
In general, making money is a means to maintaining a life, not an end. I think it's normal to think that people are happy not because they have money, but because they use money well to achieve happiness. But there are people out there who like saving and investing, and it's an end for them rather than a means.
If saving and investing gives you a high score on your level of happiness: excitement, achievement, growth, and memories, it's a theme that leads to happiness. You may not want to say that your hobby is saving or making money. But if the act of saving or making money is simply "fun," then it will be a fine theme you want to do for fun.
Even if you don't have a specific use for the money you save, the fact that you have money means that there is great "potential". It should be exciting to think, "I can do many things with this money." And when you find a theme that you think, "This is it!" happiness will be even closer.
Working or making money is not an end but a way to make a living (earn an income). There may be things you enjoy doing through your work, but in general, work should be more of an obligation than a pleasure. There are many people who want to quit their jobs as soon as they win the lottery.
However, there are some people who say they can't help but enjoy their jobs. These are people who would rather work than relax at home, and who feel that work itself is fun regardless of the amount of their salary.。
When it comes to work and happiness levels, achievement and growth are generally high marks if you are performing well in a fulfilling workplace. The rest is excitement and memories. If you're excited when you're working, and it's a good memory, you can say that the work is a theme you want to do for fun. It's like killing two birds with one stone: you get paid to do the subject you want to do for fun.
But you never know when the work environment will change. Because work has a passive component, it can often change in a negative direction. In that sense, even if you are currently enjoying and fulfilling your work, it is important to keep trying any topic you feel you would enjoy outside of work.
So far, I've given several examples (or how to find) themes that you would like to do for fun, but humans are animals that get bored.Even the most fun themes can get boring. There's nothing wrong with getting bored. It's like a physiological phenomenon. You should be ready to look for the next theme, or you should execute several themes at the same time in anticipation of getting bored.
Having many themes you want to do for fun is a prerequisite for a happy life.