Journey to Happiness
Most of us think that happiness is attained by doing the things we love and spending time with people we love. Is it true?
To understand true happiness, one must face their deepest regret and desire. Many of you might wonder what is this guy actually trying to say!
The journey to happiness is a very simple process. We already have all the answers for it inside, we just need to find it, and focus on it.
Failure starts when we disbelieve our process and objective. Unless you give your 100% nothing will take you to happiness. Consider your problem like an object, and when an object is placed close to your eyes, it blocks the whole view and all you see is that side of the object. The same goes for our problems when you are close to your problem, it blocks your view of happiness. You can’t work your way to happiness when you don’t see light at the end of the tunnel. How should you handle your problem? All the saints and philosophers have already given us an outline of the route that we should take. If it's not easy trying to understand the route, clear your mind, and look at your life again.
Consider your problem like an object — when an object is placed close to your eyes, it blocks your vision and all you see is that side of the object. The same goes for our problems — when you are close to your problem, it blocks your view of happiness.
Understand this. Everyone in this world has two lives, the second one starts once you realize that you have only one life. As soon as you recognize your life, your whole perspective changes — all the problems in your life get a new form. If I put it as an example when you are well and good, you have 100s of things that you desire but when you ask a person who is sick, all he desires is that he wants to get well and live a happy life.
The perspective of that sick person is different from a healthy person, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have other desires. He does indeed — from money, food to a hospital to treat him with love and care, etc. Regardless of all those other desires, he focuses on only one thing which is to get well. A healthy life without sickness, he lets go of all the other world desires and focuses on getting better.
Whereas for the healthy person, he will have 100s of worldly desires. When you focus on one thing with your body and soul, the universe will support you in every possible way to achieve it in a form that will be suitable to you rather than the way you like it. You will get it, in the exact form that you want, but you have to let go of all the other 99 things from your desire list. Once you achieve your desired thing, then you can start focusing on something new.
When you focus on one thing with your body and soul, the universe will support you in every possible way to achieve it — in a form that will be suitable.
Where and when did my perspective change? Was it because of reading books, articles, or watching loads of documentaries of all the philosophers out there?
The honest answer is — I found it, within me. No matter where you go, or who you follow, or the religion — they all basically revolve around us, humans attaining happiness. If you look at it, you can find yourself in one of the following 4 groups of people:
1. People who follow their own rules to keep themselves happy,
2. People who follow their religion and practice the way of their ancestor's tailored rules to keep them happy,
3. People who follow their heart do things as they go and,
4. People who don’t care about worldly desires and focus on enlightenment.
I consider myself a part of two groups. My parents are from group 2, so I followed the religious principles but when I asked my parents why are the rules tailored, and was it all meant to be like this? That is, people who end up hating other religions? I was criticized for it. This is when I realized I was part of group 3 — following my heart.
What happened to me after I realized that I was in group 3!? My 100 desires became 10, I ignored things that don’t need, and focused on things that I need to take me to the next day. Then 10 became 5 to 3.
My three desires and needs are as follows.
- Work — which provides me with money. I take care of myself and the people who are dependent on me. This covers all the essential needs of food, shelter, clothing.
- Love — people whom I care about. They can be your partners, lovers, children, and yourself.
- Knowledge — the desire to know more about life.
Happiness depends on your attitude, and not on what you have. Also, we all must understand that what others think doesn’t define our happiness.
When your desires are more or less to the above-mentioned, you will realize that happiness depends on your attitude and not on what you have. Especially staying positive when who whole world is full of stress and worries. But it's not easy as it sounds because most people have gone into a culture of doing things because their neighbour does it or society does it. We all must understand that what others think doesn’t define our happiness.
When will I become happy? Or, find my happiness!
As I mentioned above it won’t happen without your effort to let go of worldly desires and focus on what you need to make your life happy.
Tiny steps will make a huge difference, even ignoring your phone for 1 hour a day just to enjoy nature at peace. Mediating, reading books to keep your mind and soul in peace, or even cooking. It doesn’t matter what you do, but when you do it follow your heart and give your 100%, and the universe will do its best to make it happen — for you to feel happiness at the moment.
Remember what is meant for you is already decided and all we have to do is be patient and do it regularly without doubting the process.
I am still learning to make my life happy even after going through rejections, disappointment, failure in love, and more. I found happiness in sharing my love. I never changed my attitude till now so I always feel rewarded at the end of the day. How others receive it is up to them but perhaps, it infects their heart, so eventually, they will share what they receive.
And most importantly when someone is making an effort to share their love or happiness with you, do open up to them. You will never know how they are going to change your life or your perspective about happiness.
There will always be “a saddest happy person and the meanest nice person in the world”. So never get disheartened when you don’t get a response to your expectation. Be kind and be there.
To conclude it in simple words — it doesn’t matter who you are, or where you are from. When you are going through hardships and pain, remember that it is not permanent, and when you focus on what you truly desire. Things will change
To everyone who is reading this; I have to say that you are changing your life without even realising.
