1. You seek for a temporary feeling, rather than a healthy state of mind.
Happiness is a shallow, temporary feeling. Many people attempt to pursue or seek out happiness, but don’t feel satisfied after finding it. Happiness is not necessary, nor ideal.
Happiness is, doing well on an exam, indulging in food you enjoy, receiving a gift. People can make you happy too, but how long does that last?
Often, we ask ourselves, “When will I find my happiness?”, “Why am I so unhappy?”, “Why doesn’t anyone love me?”, or “What is love?”. Books, franchises, and songs have delved into these questions for years as people try to figure out what these intangible notions actually are and how to attain them. What makes someone happy and why? How do you know when you find love?
Media has adulterated so many beliefs and notions and glorified base actions and feelings. Happiness is a temporary feeling, an emotional high. It’s like a sugar rush — you can find something really quick to give you the rush, and at the moment, it may make you feel complete and whole. You’ll feel like life is worth living, like you can conquer anything.
You feel happy when something positive happens in your life, like if you find someone you like, or when you eat chocolate or another food you enjoy. People feel happy when they realized they just saved several hundred dollars on a great deal, when they’re celebrating for something great, or when they accomplish a goal.
Happiness is often emphasized in pop culture and media: “Find someone who makes you happy.” “Find a job that makes you happy.” “Do what makes you happy.”
Ask yourself: Since when has happiness ever solved our problems? The truthful reality is — it hasn’t.
It’s the icing to the cake — it seems beautiful, but it’s not the essence of the cake. It doesn’t fill you up and the pursuit thereof only blinds you.
2. You undermine the feeling of contentment.
Contentment is being thankful for what you have, good or bad. Being content is essential. Even if you don’t have everything you want, if you’re content and appreciate what you do have, there’s no need to fret or want-want-want.
Wanting isn’t terrible, but being content is something that is often overlooked. You may have wanted a new car upon turning 16, but was given a used car from your parents instead. You decide to be content, appreciative for the car either way. It’s being grateful for what you have and this can be summed up by the quote below:
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder” — G.K. Chesterton
3. You value happiness over joy.
The truth is you can be joyous without being happy, but you cannot be happy without joy. Joy is something deeper, and longer lasting. Joy fills your soul, your very essence. When times are tough, you’re not happy, clearly. You might be skipping meals to save money to pay transportation, or you may have just lost someone dear. Feeling down or sad is normal and to be expected.
Joy is not an emotion, however, and even in tough times, people still can possess joy — joy that they’re still alive and loved, joy that life goes on and that God still is taking care of them, joy that there is still tomorrow. Joy is more of an attitude. It’s paired with gratefulness and thankfulness. Often associated with Christmas, joy has nothing to do with any holiday or emotion.
One experiences joy when they’ve found their loved one after so long, or when they’ve found faith or religion. Because there is joy, even in tough times, joy keeps you tranquil and calm. I don’t always acknowledge joy is in my heart, but I know it’s what keeps me very calm. Even if I cry, there’s a hope within me that shines brightly.
Joy is a deep, long-lasting state of being (as well as an emotion). Joy comes from deep within your heart and soul. It spans across a lifetime. When a man becomes a father, he’s filled with joy. When someone is reunited with a long-gone relative, he or she is filled with joy. But being full of joy does not mean you always smile or never have problems.
Here is the lesson of the day:
Even during the toughest times where it seems like life gave up on you, someone is full of joy and is thankful. You do not have to pursue happiness. It’s a temporary feeling. You do not have to pursue joy or contentment. Just reach into your pockets and find them.
j.s.z
❤
