Adventure: The Rare Ingredient For Happiness Science Thinks You Need More of

They say happiness is like a tail. If you chase it, you’ll never catch it. But if you focus on other things, it will follow you wherever you go.

Still, it’s nice to have some clue about how to live your life.

It turns out, doing the same things over and over again is not the key to happiness. Happiness, real and true fulfillment, requires adventure.

It makes sense. Nothing gets your mood in the doldrums like doing the same old thing all the time.

Let’s look at the big reasons why adventure leads to happiness.

The Power of Memories

Memories form our identity. And our identity is tied up in our sense of self worth and, ultimately, happiness.

When you go on an adventure, you create vivid memories. You remember the time you visited Machu Picchu much more clearly than what you had for breakfast last Thursday.

These defining memories become part of the story of our lives. When we think of ourselves, we include these moments of adventure. We start to see ourselves as bigger and more daring than we used to. And we start seeing the world as a place full of new things to be discovered and enjoyed.

Personal Growth

Adventure pushes us to do things we’ve never done before — that’s almost part of the definition. It isn’t an adventure to commute to work for the 900th time. It is an adventure to travel across the country to a National Park.

When we go on adventures, we learn more about the world, but as we do that, we learn about ourselves. What are you capable of? What do you like?

It’s been said that you can’t know your country until you know two others. It’s as true for the place you live as well as the body you live in. Until you push yourself into new things, you don’t really know who you are.

And the more you learn and try, the more you become. That is key to your happiness on a deep level: seeing yourself grow.

Money Well Spent

You’ve probably heard this advice, it’s become a well-worn idiom at this point: spend money on experiences, not things. As we’ve seen, adventures are so important for your happiness, and so with your expendable income, they should take priority over acquiring items.

Adventures are satisfying because they give you growth and amazing memories. These don’t get old. When you buy a bigger TV than your old one, you notice how great it is for about a week. After that, you’ve become accustomed to it, and anytime you watch a smaller TV, you are more unsatisfied. But a great memory stands the test of time.

By choosing adventure over luxury items, you invest in happiness — something no TV, pool, or mansion can ever give you.