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All pleasures are overrated. No matter which pleasure you find yourself indulging in, it prevents you from experiencing deep contentment and true happiness.In American culture, we’ve been told that pleasure equals happiness. Advertisements and value systems have infiltrated our minds and programmed us to equate pleasure with happiness, despite the fact that they are two very different things.Pleasure is fleeting. Sometimes the most pleasurable aspect of life is the chase rather than the acquisition. When we’re falling in love with another person, we overlook their flaws because we are gaining substantial pleasure from various chemicals in our brain. Whether it’s a raise, a new iPhone, or a mind-altering substance, we feel substantial pleasure when we anticipate a reward.Even while using our new iPhone, receiving our raise, or getting high, we experience pleasure for a period of time. When we are fully experiencing these events, they are immensely pleasurable, but soon after they loose their impact.We’ve used all of the new iPhone features, so we have to start looking for cooler apps. We’ve seen our bank account expand, so now we feel the need to set the bar higher. The same dose no longer gets us high, so we need more drugs. Pleasure is incredibly short-lived.If you take out the word pleasure and insert the word happiness in what I just wrote, you’ll find where most people go wrong in American culture.We’ve been told that pleasure, which is something you can induce, is happiness. Unfortunately, happiness is not a commodity that can be bought and sold — it is a byproduct of full engagement with the now.Happiness is not something separate from life, it is life in it’s purest form. Once all obstacles have been removed, happiness flows through you.No matter what pleasure you seek, it is fleeting, momentary, and ultimately unfulfilling.Stop chasing pleasure. Stop chasing happiness. Start living in the moment and appreciating all of the gifts that are already present in your life.--------------------Matthew Jones writes at presencepowerpotential.com, where he shares an integrated approach to wellness and self-fulfillment that’s focused on balancing the mind, body, and spirit.Follow Matt on Snapchat and Twitter: M_tthewJones

All Extremely Happy 20-Somethings Do These 10 Life HabitsMany habits in this world are a waste of time. Speaking from my own experience, my decision to binge watch a Netflix series adds no significant value to my life. It feels great in the moment, but the pleasure obtained is temporary and fleeting.When I take time to reflect on my life and the things I value most, I realize that Netflix series and other forms of superficial entertainment aren’t on my list of top priorities. At best, they offer temporary escapes from a self-imposed high-stress environment created from my own zealous overemphasis on professional productivity and personal growth. But my perspective is hardly unique.As a life coach and licensed therapist, many of my most successful clients—the executives and entrepreneurs—have similar mindsets. They describe working long hours and then wanting to collapse in their spare time, which doesn’t leave much room for meaningful habits. They too find difficulty in prioritizing activities that are worth their time—things that add value to their lives.One thing that I've learned from our work together is that some habits, even small ones, build happiness over time, whereas others feel great in the moment, but do nothing to improve life satisfaction. To discover which habits to prioritize, read the list below, which contains 10 habits all extremely successful and happy 20-somethings do on a regular basis.1. Improve your physical health by exercising on a consistent basis, eating an appropriate diet, and prioritizing sleep.You can’t underestimate how much these small habits contribute to your physical, mental, and emotional health over time. When you’re young, it’s easy to overlook these aspects, but the better your foundation, the more health and energy you’ll have as you continue aging.2. Find an appropriate balance between the disciplined routines that create wealth and the spontaneity needed to keep your heart young.Structure consistency build wealth, but spontaneity is needed to maintain a fresh and enlivened perspective. If you want happiness and success, then you need to find a balance between the two. No two people are the same, so discover what works for you rather than modeling your life after someone else.3. Travel and spend time in nature away from excessive stimulation.We live in a chaotic world, and it takes a toll on your brain. Stepping away and challenging yourself to expand your perception does wonders for creativity and self-awareness. Take time to recharge, re-energize, and clarify your future goals.4. Build and maintain meaningful long-term relationships with people you care about.As you age, it gets easier and easier to lose touch with your friends. Prioritize these friendships—relationships are the most important thing in life. Find time to continue investing in the relationships that got you to where you are today so that you have people to share your success with and reflect on the progress you’ve made.5. Engage in real self-development practices like therapy or coaching to remove emotional blocks that prevent long-term happiness.The best investment you can make is in yourself. When you stay committed to real self growth—not just by reading self-help books, but by actually engaging in the process—you’re guaranteed to have results that increase your happiness, boost your self-esteem, and empower you to reach your full potential.6. Stay committed to your passions, no matter what happens.Do what you love, even if it’s not profitable. If you love to make music because it brings you joy, prioritize making time to do that. Money isn’t the only form of wealth. The more that you can connect to your passions, the more energy and motivation you’ll have in all areas of your life.7. Practice gratitude for what is already present in your life, and appreciate the small things.I always tell my clients that if you can’t be happy now, you'll never be happy. When you live in your mind instead of your heart, you’re bound to be dissatisfied and always looking for something more. Appreciate what you have—there is no guarantee that you'll get more in the future.8. Build compassion for yourself and others when your expectations aren’t met.Your inner voice—the critic that tells you to do something better—can be good or destructive depending on it’s volume. I recommend that you try to turn it’s volume down. The more power you give that voice, the worse you treat yourself and others. Instead, be thoughtful and compassionate toward yourself and treat others with the respect they deserve. You’ll not only be happier, you’ll have better interactions with people you don’t understand.9. Learn from your failures and shortcomings so that you can continue growing as a person and professional.Stop looking at failures as indications of your ineptitude and start embracing them as part of the learning process. The more that you can learn from each shortcoming—both in business and in life—the happier and more successful you’ll become.10. Practice non-attachment to ideas, plans, and expectations.Flexibility creates adaptability. The more you can adapt to changing circumstances, the more joy will enter your life. When you take a step back and try to go with the flow of life rather than fighting it through your attachment to (unrealistic) expectations, you build a greater sense of fulfillment.Don’t continue wasting your time practicing bad habits that don’t contribute meaningful value to your life just because others do them. Instead, discover the practices that build wealth—both material and emotional—and invest in yourself so that you reach your full potential and enjoy the fruits of your labor.--------------------Matthew Jones is a life coach, licensed therapist, and published author.Matt writes at presencepowerpotential.com and Inc. Magazine where he writes innovative and informative articles on self-development, self-fulfillment, and self-growth.Follow Matt on Twitter: M_tthewJones

Work is never enough. We all need to have hobbies other than our work to add value to our lives. Finding activities that are rejuvenating is important, because it helps us maintain a proper work-life balance. To prevent mental and emotional burnout, we need to disrupt our routines with a spark of something new. Instead of doing the usual Netflix binge, find something that can make you smarter.Not all hobbies are created equal. Rather than wasting time on hobbies that don’t contribute to our mental and physical wellbeing, invest your time in activities that increase your productivity. Sure, staying inside the comfort of your home, ordering in, and staring that the one-two punch of HBO and your iPhone feels great, but it’s not aiding your personal development. Find a hobby that inspires you and makes you smarter.Here are the top five hobbies that make you smarter:1. Exercise.Moving your body is beneficial for your physical and mental health. Exercising consistently will not only add years to your life, it’ll improve your sleep and energy levels throughout each day. Studies find that exercising decreases symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity and leads to better cognitive performance. Even better, exercise comes in all shapes and forms.If you’re looking for something more relaxing, try yoga, which also has amazing health benefits. Have an itch for intensity? Head to the gym and lift weights. Swimming is easy on the joints, hiking helps you connect with nature, and running is a gold standard cardiovascular activity. With all of these benefits, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t be exercising.2. Meditation.Numerous studies demonstrate that consistent meditation has several health benefits—it leads to better focus and attention, improved moods, and less pain. Over time, meditation changes the brain and helps us regain emotional control. While it may be uncomfortable the first few times you sit in silence, in time you will learn to savor the opportunity to disconnect from the chaos of modern life.Learning to observe rather than judging and attaching to our thoughts helps us recognize that our brains can be used as tools rather than an out-of-control engine preventing us from experiencing happiness. Out of all hobbies, meditation is the most cost-effective and, if you’re consistent, will lead to great results.3. Reading.Connecting to books is a great way to learn more information. Whether it’s reading for pleasure in the fiction section or gaining applicable knowledge through self-help books, turning pages helps expand your mind. Reading books improves your vocabulary, your public speaking, and your critical thinking skills. When done on a consistent basis, reading stimulates the brain and can prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Substitute an hour of phone and TV time for an hour of reading and start being smart with your time.4. Music.Playing an instrument is a workout for your entire brain. Studies show that playing an instrument activates many areas of your brain. When children learn to play instruments, they achieve higher scores in reading comprehension and mathematics. Listening and playing music improves your memory capacity, teaches you how to work in a team, and helps you appreciate cultural diversity. While it may be difficult to learn how to play an instrument, it’s a fun process that can lead to great fulfillment and better all-round productivity.5. Writing.Spending time each day writing can lead to greater happiness. The reason that I’m taking the time to write this article isn’t just to be helpful to others, it also helps me externalize thoughts and feelings that would otherwise occupy valuable space in my mind. Writing helps me clear space in my mind that I can use to focus on other important tasks.While there are many emotional benefits to writing, it can also increase productivity. Writing on a consistent basis leads to clearer thinking and analysis, and improves your ability to communicate with others. If you really want to refine your thoughts, then start sharing them with the world.Don’t settle for average. Leave the comfort zone of your black leather sofa and challenge yourself to find meaningful hobbies that add value to your life. Find activities that improve your mind and body, so that you can live a longer, more productive life. Take any of the five hobbies listed above and then see how much happier and healthier you can become.--------------------Matthew Jones writes at presencepowerpotential.com, where he shares an integrated approach to wellness and self-fulfillment that’s focused on balancing the mind, body, and spirit.Follow Matt on Snapchat and Twitter: M_tthewJones