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The Goal Isn’t Happiness, but Wholeness
A few months ago, I sat with a friend in a coffee shop designed for life-altering conversations. You know, the kind with exposed brick walls and baristas who look very intellectual.
My friend leaned in, a cup cradled in her hands like it contained the secrets of the Universe, and said, “I think I’ve finally stopped chasing happiness.”
I blinked. Isn’t happiness the point of… everything? Isn’t it why we meditate, do yoga, buy gratitude journals, and occasionally (or not-so-occasionally) splurge on overpriced skincare? To find happiness?
“What are you chasing then?” I asked, genuinely curious but also a little sceptical because it sounded like she’d just rejected the most popular goal in the human handbook.
She took a long sip of her latte and said, “Wholeness.”
And just like that, my world cracked open.
Let’s be honest. Happiness gets way too much airtime. It’s the golden carrot we all chase because we believe it will make life worth living. But have you noticed how slippery it is? Like trying to hold a bar of soap in the shower.
You can have a good day, hit a personal milestone, or get the job you’ve been dreaming of, and sure, you will feel happy — for a minute. But then the next goal pops up.
