In past articles I encouraged you to evaluate your own emotional well-being by taking my General Inventory of Life Satisfaction (GILS). This week I want to show how to use the results of your self-assessment to move toward achieving real and lasting happiness, contentment and satisfaction with life.  

Once you have scored your GILS, look at how you stand with respect to your level of satisfaction on each of the 10 core value scores. Identify your lowest score. Then, go to that section of the GILS and look at the specific item or items where you indicated you are less than fully satisfied. Once you have isolated this aspect of your life you are ready to begin to start your action planning.

The next step consists of asking the question, “What change would result in my being more satisfied with this aspect of my life?” Answering this question may require some imagination. There may also be more than one answer to the question. In working on the answer to this question it is important to be open to as many possibilities as possible. Write these answers on a piece of paper or on a word processor.

Once you have identified what changes could bring about a greater level of satisfaction you can begin to think about what you can do to bring about these changes. As you go through this process you may discover that there are a number of potential courses of action. Once you find the one that appears to be most realistic you will be on your way to developing a plan of action.

If, for example, the results of your GILS indicate that you are dissatisfied with the amount of your companionship with friends, one change that may lead to greater satisfaction could consist of getting together with one of your friends for lunch a couple of times a month. Another change could involve a weekly activity like gathering a group of friends to play cards, go to the movies or eat dinner at one another’s homes or in a comfortable restaurant.

Once you have come up with a change that seems to be the most realistic, put together a plan for turning what you have in mind into reality. Then pursue this course of action with the confidence that what you are doing will probably result in a real and lasting improvement in your overall level of emotional well-being.

[Ed. Note: Dr. Douglas Ramm is a psychologist, philosopher, author and leading researcher in the field of emotional well-being, contentment and life satisfaction. He has appeared on numerous radio and television talk shows where he shares insights for enhancing quality of life. Discover how to enhance yours here.]

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