“I just want to be happy.”
Don’t we all!
It’s commonplace for human beings to desire happiness above all else. It’s as natural as the air we breathe.
No one wants to feel sad, alone, or stagnant. No one wants to feel angry, anxious, or despondent.
We want to be independent, God forbid co-dependent (yet don’t we all need each other in some way?).
We don’t want to appear dysfunctional, we strive to seem normal (what is that?).
We are driven to feel good – sometimes at any cost. Booze, drugs, sex. Work, food, exercise. We crave those endorphins, or a dopamine rush. It’s often elusive, yet addicting. We may try it all seeking that rush, that state of zen we long to sustain, every moment of every day.
Yet happiness is not a destination. It’s not a place we arrive at.
Happiness is a feeling, one that fills our heart, then floats away – to return again, either moments, or years later.
We don’t stay in that emotional state. We may awake happy, then grow sad as we move into the morning. Anger may consume us over something trivial and envy may seep in while we’re preparing for the day, thinking of someone else’s life that seems so idyllic. Next we are contemplative, then excited, then indifferent.
Up, down. Anxious, calm. Happy, sad. Often, over and over, for no obvious reason. It just happens.
This is how it goes. This is how feelings roll. This is life.
It doesn’t matter if you’re wealthy or poor, healthy or sick. Never assume what someone’s life is like, no matter how it looks from the outside looking in.
Happiness is an inside job, and is exempt from money, career, physical appearance, and popularity.
If happiness is your ultimate goal, learn to navigate your feelings and appreciate all each one has to offer. Allow them to visit and sit awhile, digging deep to understand what they can show you – or better yet, teach you.
Don’t look to arrive, but rather cultivate moments of bliss that will color your life.
