Why do I feel happier planning a vacation than actually taking one? Because anticipation is its own reward, and the science backs you up. People often pull as much happiness out of planning and looking forward to a trip as they do from the short window they spend on it. That is not a flaw, it is something to use on purpose. So stop treating the planning as a chore to rush through. Stretch it out, savor it, talk about it. The same idea carries into your practice and your life. Build things you get to look forward to, not just [...]