Some people make a distinction between activities that bring pleasure and activities that give a sense of accomplishment. Some activities are performed for pure pleasure such as going to a movie, taking a bubble bath, wiggling toes in the sand or basking in the sun. Other activities aren’t so pleasant to do but when you finish them you feel good because you get a sense of accomplishment or control over a situation.
For example, cleaning the kitchen floor or tidying up a closet may not be exactly “fun,” but you can feel “good” or “better” after having done a small job because you can feel like you have accomplished something.
Over the next several weeks we are going to ask you to do some experimenting by doing things that may provide a sense of pleasure or accomplishment. Again, all we ask is that you try it and see what happens.
If you’re having some trouble coming up with some activities that will give you a sense of accomplishment, here’s a list that will get you started:
Donating to a good cause
Passing a test
Planning a trip or vacation
Making a piece of Art
Redecorating
Rearranging furniture
Learning something new
Learning how to fix something
Doing the dishes
Writing something well
Saying something well
Making other people happy
