Member-only story
The Year I Stopped Trying to Be Happy
And accidentally found something better: peace
Hey there, fellow traveler on this wild ride called life!
Ever felt like you were constantly chasing “happiness” but it always seemed just out of reach?
Like it was a finish line you could never quite cross, no matter how hard you ran?
If so, you’re not alone. I’ve been there.
In fact, just a few years ago, I was living that exact struggle.
My goal, every single day, was “to be happy.”
Sounds noble, right?
But it became this exhausting pursuit. If I wasn’t bubbling with joy, I felt like a failure.
A bad mood, a stressful workday, an unexpected bill — anything that pulled me away from that ideal state of bliss made me feel like I was doing something wrong.
I pushed myself to socialize, even when I was drained.
I forced smiles.
I scrolled endlessly through social media, seeing everyone else’s seemingly perfect, “happy” lives, and feeling even worse.
Then, something shifted.
Not dramatically, but subtly.
