Appreciating the ephemeral to value the present

One technique that may seem counterintuitive for increasing happiness and appreciation of good times is to focus attention, from time to time, on the transitory nature of positive experiences.

And in the idea that these will eventually come to an end.

This awareness of impermanence can, paradoxically, intensify the value placed on them.

Gratitude in the face of Transience

Rather than pretending that good things will last forever, which can lead to taking them for granted, recognizing their ephemeral nature can foster greater gratitude and a stronger desire to make the most of the time available.

This idea aligns with the principle of gratitude, but from a particular perspective.

The Study of College Students Nearing Graduation

Research conducted with college students who were just weeks away from graduation illustrates this concept.

Graduation, although a time of celebration, is also bittersweet because of the farewell to friends and a stage of life.

One group of students was asked to write about how quickly the remaining weeks before graduation would pass, while another group was asked to reflect on how six weeks was actually a considerable amount of time.

The results showed that students who focused on the brevity of the remaining time reported being happier.

Motivation for Action and Enjoyment

It seems that becoming aware of how fleeting valuable events are makes us appreciate them more intensely in the present.

Moreover, students who reflected on how little time they had left were not only happier.

They were also more likely to take advantage of that time by participating in more activities.

This "now or never mentality," generated by an awareness of transience, can motivate people to make the most of every day and every positive experience.