With a fresh perspective on happiness, we may live happier, more fulfilled lives.
Happiness—it's a term that keeps popping up. It is something that we strive for and want to accomplish, though it seems like we're getting no closer to our goal with each passing day. We lose sight of happiness.
We have had times of joy. It may have been a wedding or the arrival of a new life. On the other hand, it may have been the other night when we were visiting with loved ones. Those were the times when we felt joy—pure joy, almost transcendent.
Later on, it disappears. Then the night falls. No longer is there joy. Many times, a void will fill the void instead.
If only we had more cash on hand! That's all that's required! Alternatively, it may be that brand-new mobile phone. Get a brand-new vehicle? Indeed, that's all!
What we desire is a connection, not material possessions or money. We want the one who will make us happy and fulfilled—the one who will complete us! If this is the case, I wish we were not in a relationship.
After a short honeymoon, however, we're right back where we were before we got those goods.
Vanishing point. Too bad. As a result, we look for alternatives. This goes on indefinitely.
Looks like we're stuck in a bad mood. Our next move, then?
We use diversion. When we're feeling down about our lives or the state of the world, we (obsessively) turn on TV to take our minds off of it. We take a sip. We light up. Our mealtime comes. Every thirty seconds, we check our phones.
If we want to be happy, we adopt unconscious shortcuts. But we never seem to be satisfied, and the shortcuts appear to be contributing to our misery. Subsequently, our misery increases as we develop an addiction to these diversionary tactics. Listen to the 11:00 news; I'm sure you understand. We can't be joyful since the world is terrible.
A Revolutionary View on Happiness
It is time to get down from the cliff after spending the past paragraphs completely sad. We have the option to be happy. But we must relearn everything we have ever known or thought about regarding happiness to experience it.
To start, let's talk about what happiness isn't.
Achieving happiness is not a final goal.
Nobody will ever be happy if that's their ultimate aim in life.
Yes, please reread that.
Finding joy is not the objective. Finding joy in life is a mirage. Chasing happiness is a sure way never to see it.
Our focus has been on happiness as the end goal up to this point. That's not right.
According to everyone we've heard from (parents, educators, politicians, and even TV celebrities), the purpose of our existence is to find happiness.
It is plenty, I assure you. It has been drilled into our heads repeatedly: seek happiness. It is said that being joyful should be our ultimate aim in life.
But how many of us are content? Very few. Simply put, we are unable to seek joy. Rephrased: we may try to find happiness all we want, but it will elude us. It will be okay with what we do. Because we have been through it, we know. This is our reality.
We need to come up with a different definition of happiness now. Our understanding of happiness is failing us; thus, it is time to find a new one. It's far worse than that. We have the erroneous idea of happiness as a goal or destination in the present.
Then, how can one define joy?
Success leads to joy.
When we follow our gut feelings about the right course of action, we experience happiness. When we are evolving, growing, and expanding, we experience happiness.
Finding and maintaining happiness is beyond our control. It is a consequence, an unintended result. We may expect joy as a byproduct of our expansion and growth.
As long as we keep seeking happiness, we will never find it.
Our objective must be expansion, growth, and progress. As we strive toward that objective, we will be joyful.
Rejoicing does not entail grinning. The amount of happiness shown on one's face is irrelevant. We may be working harder than we ever have. Our features can betray our emotions—pain, disgust, or both. However, inside, we will sing along as we strive to improve and advance personally.
Contentment is the end outcome.
So, the most important thing to consider now is: Are you heading in the correct direction? Do you know? Are you developing? Have you progressed? You will go on your path and achieve happiness when you respond "Yes" to those questions.
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