The Pursuit of Happiness

The life you want is in the challenge you avoid

Embrace the hard

You likely heard dopamine, a chemical in your brain makes you feel good and keeps you motivated. When you seek pleasure from food, social media, shopping, or gambling, you see spikes and crashes in dopamine and happiness. The instant satisfaction can easily become addictive as it gets harder to find pleasure in the simple things. When you chase hard goals, which require discipline over a long time, you can elevate your baseline dopamine and happiness. In essence, the progress and reward of a healthy diet, regular exercise, meaningful purpose and relationships will keep you happier longer.

Insight: Lasting happiness is found in delayed gratification.

Enjoy the journey

Happiness is not just about feeling good. Lasting happiness is about the growth and transformation in achievement.

It’s not just about the climb, but who you become along the way.

Many people start a fitness journey to lose fat, gain muscle, or to achieve a specific look. However, the sense of accomplishment from pushing through daily discomfort, is what builds wellbeing. It’s in the process people find their happiness.

Practicing your faith, meditation, or even cold plunging can have a positive impact on your mental wellness. Similar, to physical action, it’s the consistent discipline over time that builds harmony, resilience and positive ripples in your life.

After growing up on the east coast and experiencing the brutal winters; I’ve become someone who appreciates warmer climates. I have spent my adult life in California and avoid cold as much as possible. Sunshine, hot showers, hot tubs and spicy foods are all things I enjoy.

When I got an injury last year, a friend recommended cold plunging. The pain was so bad, I was willing to try anything. Then something amazing happened. The challenge of freezing cold-water immersion unlocked lasting relief. My mind and body were frozen in the moment, not wandering into painful feelings or thoughts.

After a few minutes, when I stepped out, I felt better not only physically, but also experienced a sense of wellbeing and happiness. Now, I cold plunge daily, by pushing through temporary discomfort and challenge I cultivate a sense of long-term wellness.

Find your challenge

In life, we are faced with a choice to seek short-term rewards or invest in long-term growth. Quick thrills are fun now, painful later. True growth is hard now, fulfilling later. If you are seeking a life of lasting joy and happiness, the science is clear.

The life you want is in the challenge you avoid.

Make Shift Happen® today.

Rik Basi

© 2025 Rik Basi. All Rights Reserved.