The other day I found myself absently humming a song that is probably very familiar to any child who grew up in the '80's - "Part of Your World," from Disney's The Little Mermaid. For a second, I paused to remember the lyrics, words that we repeated as kids again and again...
Looking around here you think
Sure, she's got everything
I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got whozits and whatsits galore
Thingamabobs? I've got twenty!
But who cares?
No Big Deal
I want more....
And I thought to myself, "wow, what a terrible, terrible lesson." Here she is, future-queen of the whole ocean with a cavern full of whozits and whatsits, and she is griping about how much better life would be if she could only attain the unattainable - to walk on land!
It's human nature (and apparently mermaid nature) to want more, to chase after happiness with both arms outstretched, thinking that, if only you were able to change your circumstances financially, romantically, physically... then you'd be happy. But, as Mad Men's Don Draper would remind us, "What is happiness? It's a moment before you need more happiness."
That's a scary thought, right? When we finally do get our hands on that thing that would make us happy, our eyes will already be drifting towards the horizon, looking for the next source of happiness.
Studies have found that people who set vague goals (like "be successful," "get in shape") were actually more likely to be unhappy than those who didn't set goals at all. There's an important lesson here: by always looking ahead, we're failing to focus on what we have now. By looking at only the summit, we ignore the climb. Rather than being grateful for all that we are given every day, we're focusing on what we don't have... yet.
As an acupuncturist, I love to help people with anxiety. Acupuncture can certainly help with insomnia, depression, stress, and worry - but a simple change of your mindset can make the feeling you get during your acupuncture treatment more enduring and profound. Switching from an "I want more" to an "I have so much" state of mind is empowering.
I learned about Naikan therapy when I was an acupuncture student. Naikan is essentially a practice of gratitude, in which you are asked to look objectively at what you have given to others, what you have received, and where you may have caused harm or inconvenience to those around you. Its purpose is to make you aware of all the ways that you receive love and support on a daily basis, even in the smallest of ways.
I like to do a month-long Naikan practice starting right around Thanksgiving. I feel like it helps me more deeply appreciate the true intention behind the holiday, and keeps me grounded during the consumer-driven Christmas season. I hope you'll consider joining me in this practice! Rarely can an acupuncturist promise that something she suggests will change your life - but in this case I feel confident saying that gratitude is a life-changer. At the very least, it will change your attitude!
