Finding Contentment in a So-Called Improving Economy

If you're a computer geek, a brilliant entrepreneur, or have a cush government job, you may be doing fine. 

But not withstanding the rosy government reports on how the economy is recovering, I'm seeing lots of people just trying to keep their heads above water.

If you or someone you know is like that, you might want to read my PsychologyToday.com article today.

A Five-Minute Course in Finding Contentment

I was curious which of my 1,250 blog posts has been read most often. Three stood out:

How I Could Live Decently on $20,000 a Year

Top 10 Ways to Gain Willpower

The Peter Pan Syndrome: Why Smart People Fail

So today, I went back and tuned each of those up. 

It would take you just five minutes total to read all three and it just might be of real value to you.

My Simple Pleasures

Most people I know derive most of their pleasure from relationships, travel, sports, TV, clothes, pop culture, yoga, spas, etc.

I'm atypical. I don't know if any of you would find it helpful, but here's what gives me greatest pleasure:

• First and foremost, my work. But of course, if you're a regular reader of this blog, you knew that. The more I contribute, the more worthy I feel, the more I feel like I've earned my spot on the planet.
• The feeling I get after drinking a cup of coffee: smarter, more upbeat. Caffeine is my drug of choice.
• My doggie, Einstein, whether it's watching him sleeping on the dog bed next to my desk, taking our daily hike around the lake, or even fake-yelling at him for jumping onto the kitchen counter. (Click on the photo to get a close-up look at my baby.)
• An Indian buffet
• Being musical performance coach to my wife and to my former career counseling client and now friend, Jeffrie Givens.
• Gardening: seeing that amalgamation of the hybridizer's years of work with nature's miracle of growth. 
• Watching a great movie at home. Video on-demand is wonderful. 
• Googling. The world's information is just a few clicks away. Just 25 years ago, that would have been deemed impossible.
• Playing the piano for clients or friends. 
• Watching C-Span, especially the in-depth, fair-minded interviews of people on both the Left and Right.
• Watching YouTube videos of great performances. Last night, Jeffrie and I watched six world-class performances of Take Me or Leave Me from Rent.

Note that all of those pleasures are low-cost or free.