#005 - Resolutions | Life

I think we make New Year Resolutions because we’re usually unhappy, or dissatisfied with something in our lives. Perhaps there is an injustice that we see in the world around us, and we seek to change things because we don’t want to feel powerless in the present. So we try to break out by setting goals for ourselves, and during the hype of the new year, we’ve spawned the crafting of resolutions.

But making resolutions is an empty exercise if all they do is address the symptoms of the dissatisfaction we face, and lock us in the vicious cycle of making and breaking said resolutions. We at Happyesque believe that the real question we need to ask ourselves is “What would make me happy?” It’s something that we think about all the time, and yet, we don’t always understand the motivations behind it.

Well, this month, we asked a few Netizens to distill what they think would make them happy in 2010 using a single tweet (140 characters), as an exercise to identify the things that really matter. A rather surprising trend that stood out, was that while we all go about achieving happiness in different ways, we all ultimately want similar things.

Relationships, Careers, Health, Purpose, Financial Stability, Love, Growth, etc. They come in different shapes and sizes to different people, but knowing what they are, allows you to chart your path to happiness more clearly, without needing to mindless chase the things of this world.

So these are some of the collective voices from people around Singapore, serving as a reminder to start the year with a wish to be happier!

@nikipaniki: Money! Kidding…well, half kidding. Money will solve half of my problems. But what would make me happy is… keeping my job and have enough time/money to travel to at least 2 or 3 destinations this year. And practice my Spanish. [http://www.nikipaniki.com]

@pixiedub: a more balanced life! in work, personal time and time with friends. a raise would help too. [http://twitter.com/pixiedub]

@stephietan: Staying healthy will make me very happy in 2010, with good health I’ll be able to achieve career & life goals. [http://www.stephiesays.com]

@brainopera: Frankly speaking, I’d be happy to land a job I’d love. It’s proven to be harder than I imagined. [http://theory.isthereason.com]

@cherylhan: it would make me happy if more people start cycling to work. and more designated cycling lanes in sg! [http://cherylhan.wordpress.com]

@mintea: In 2010 I would be happy when the boyfriend would be back in SG for good. No more LDR for me. [http://lookykrill.blogspot.com]

@avalanchelynn: hmmm..being able to make my loved ones happy would make me happy,really:)no quarrels,smiles,contentment..well,if i could shed kilos,gd too! [http://twitter.com/avalanchelynn]

@wanidakok: haha. too many things! top 3 would be seeing u2 live, traipsing around the world and finding love…amongst other things. :p [http://wanida.livejournal.com]

@inrsoul: greater job satisfaction! even bosses need it, even more so. i like to be involved in more creative projects… seeing them through to the finished product. whatever it may be, websites, publication, photography. that wld make me happy. [http://www.kevin365.com]

@artiwil: What will make me happy? Career success and good health for both Pete and me. Making the right decisions and following my dreams. Add to that having the people around me enjoy happiness in its truest sense. [http://twitter.com/artiwil]

@kittywurecords: More recognition for local music in the mainstream media (TV/Radio/Press) as the scene grows [http://www.kittywurecords.com]

@ThomasCrampton: It would make me happy in 2010 if people started using the power of Social Media to improve the world. [http://www.thomascrampton.com]

@xwen: What makes me happy is having less “wants” and more happiness for 2010. OK, maybe a pair of Yeah Yeah Yeahs tickets. [http://www.fash-eccentric.com/]

@krisandro: Hmmmmmm…. I have too many things that will make me happy. lol. [http://www.krisandro.com]

@nadnut: The 4 happiness: More money, Better relationships with my loved ones, Great experiences and recognition. [http://www.nadnut.com]

@lucian: Happiness for 2010. Courage to be the person God wants me to be. [http://www.tribolum.com]

@MrToffee: If my no-protein diet actually worked and I lose a significant amount of weight. [http://www.gameaxis.com]

@iammyy: Spending more time with the loved ones (how cliche), getting a great internship tt i can learn something frm ! [http://www.ingridmak.net]

@ambarvalia: In short, what would make me happy is to be the best lawyer that I can be. [http://ambarvalia.livejournal.com/]

@unfluff: Google “Life Without Pants”. It’s about the concept of lifestyle design. Everything abt that blog makes me happy [http://www.unfluff.com]

@belindaang: Good health for my parents, and completing the book I’m producing – The Way I Remember Home. [http://www.belindaang.com]

@clicktokill: To continuously learn, grow, explore & accept that as long as i am open-minded, so will my future. [http://www.clicktokill.net]

@twistedian: To achieve the wisdom to know which are the things I cannot change and the things that I can. And Singapore reaches the Asian Cup. [http://ian.onthereddot.com]

@rosiered: Copious amounts of chai and a life lived in faith. [http://www.square.sg]

@noelyeo: I wish to lose my double chin. [http://shelvestheband.wordpress.com]

@LizLion: For a start, the constant articulation of personal unhappiness is a great way to stay happy for 2010! gonna start complaining post haste. [http://leleohead.wordpress.com]

@geekonomics: I’d be happy in 2010 if I can get married! (Not forgeting the shiny new gadgets) [http://www.khoocapital.com]

@greenlaundry: run 2x a week, try fennel & risotto, visit a new city, family time, bike license!, have a certain man in my life ‘engage’ me, keep cool [http://www.greenlaundry.net]

@uniquefrequency: if people could be a little kinder to each other – that would make me happy in 2010 [http://www.uniquefrequency.com]

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