The Reverse Bucket List, by Arthur Brooks, is a concept to increase satisfaction. Today, we talk about creating a reverse bucket list and how it can make you happier with what you have accomplished in your life thus far! 

Transcript:

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in about 2 minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins® (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life.

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat and today I’m sharing The Reverse Bucket List by Arthur Brooks, of The Atlantic.  He created this concept called the Reverse Bucket List to improve satisfaction - which improves happiness.

He says “The fewer wants there are screaming inside your brain and dividing your attention, the more peace and satisfaction will be left for what you already have.” 

The traditional bucket list is all the dreams and things you want to accomplish.  That’s not a new concept.  What Arthur Brooks is trying to achieve is a reverse bucket list so that you feel more satisfied with the dreams you've accomplished and the things you already have.

He says it can solve the satisfaction problem.

Satisfaction is not a function of what you HAVE - its actually an equation of what you HAVE and what you WANT.   Think of it like a fraction: the top is what you have and the bottom is what you want.

When you don’t manage the denominator, the bottom, the wants will expand and sprawl. This is your traditional bucket list.

Instead, start a reverse bucket list.  You have all the desires and wants. 

Write a list of your haves and try to detach yourself from the wants by focusing on the haves.  Then, your denominator will fall, and satisfaction will rise. That is the reverse bucket list exercise. 

Tomorrow, I’ll share with you how I organize my reverse bucket list. 

I’m always working on my reverse bucket list and if you want to connect on this or work together, I’m on social @everydayhappinesswithkatie and on the hashtags #IntentionalMargins and #everydayhappinesswithkatie on Instagram. I’d love to know what’s on your reverse bucket list. 

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