Ask most people what defines a good life and you’ll probably hear “happiness.” Yes, happiness is central when most of us think about the life we want. You’ll also likely hear “purpose.” We want to lead meaningful lives that make a difference. But there’s a third key ingredient, according to researchers, “variety.” Variety in the people we interact with. Variety in the things we do. But, as you’ll discover later in this post, variety has an adversary.
Spice Up Your Lunch, Spice Up Your Life
Imagine going out for lunch today. Do you pick your favorite restaurant? And if you do, will you probably order your favorite menu item? There’s nothing wrong with that. You enjoy it, you know what to expect. It’s a safe choice and you won’t be disappointed.
But the old adage “variety is the spice of life” rings true. Yes, ordering something different from the menu or choosing a new restaurant is a risk, but it’s also how we discover new treasures! Remember, that favorite dish from your favorite restaurant was something “new” you tried some time ago.
A Variety of Experiences
The focus of an eye-opening study published by the American Psychological Association, showed that varied experiences can be pathways to enhancing both happiness and meaning. Just think back to your favorite trips. Those are likely a variety of destinations. And among those different destinations, a variety of activities.
Even experiences that don’t directly contribute to happiness or purpose can contribute to a good life. Like the time you dared to ride a roller coaster or when you sat for jury duty, those experiences became a part of your life’s story. If your flight hadn’t been canceled, you wouldn’t have extended your trip, and you would never have toured an actual submarine at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.
A Variety of People
Surveys suggest people who interact with a wide variety of people report greater life satisfaction. That’s the title of an article published on Phys.org. Time spent with people we’re close to is life-giving. But the researchers found that the sheer number of people we interact with – even strangers – also plays a large role in life satisfaction.
Our friends are often people like us. We bond around common interests and beliefs. Our neighbors are typically more diverse, but still, we tend to cluster around certain commonalities. The workplace is different. Upbringings, points of view, priorities, education, abilities – the tremendous variety among the staff strengthens the team. We come to appreciate each other, quirks and all, and are glad for their differences.
Variety Has an Adversary
Good news! Adding more variety to our lives is relatively easy, if we’re willing to relinquish a bit of control we might have over the outcome. But variety has an adversary. Habit. Habits make our lives easier. We eat the same thing for breakfast every day, so we don’t have to think about what to make for breakfast. This, in turn, makes grocery shopping easier. We’re on autopilot as we skip entire aisles at the grocery store.
In fact, we default to habit, to autopilot, for most of the decisions we make. And breaking habits, even those we’re not consciously aware of, takes initiative on our part. The solution? Deciding to add variety, to change the routine. We invite a friend to try a new restaurant with us. We choose to participate in a Silver Sneakers walking group and make a couple of new friends.
Sunlight Caregivers: Champions of Variety
Sunlight Caregivers help add variety. First, they become a new friend, providing a listening ear and if desired, share their own interesting life experiences. Caregivers encourage variety, such as learning a new game or trying a new recipe. They can also make it possible to do things that you might not be able to do alone. A Sunlight Caregiver recently drove one of our Omaha clients to the neighborhood she grew up in. She hadn’t seen it in decades. Long-forgotten memories surfaced, in vivid, colorful detail. That variety in her daily routine and reliving her childhood reinforced her appreciation for the good life she had been blessed with!
So here’s the takeaway: to savor the symphony of life, embrace variety! Spice up your routines, try new things, and surround yourself with diverse experiences and people. It’s the secret ingredient to a truly fulfilling life.
