The Pursuit of true Happiness

Each one of us have our own understanding of happiness. For some, they want a new car, while others wants a luxury home, to some ladies, they want a collection of designer bags, clothes or shoes. There are others who wants to travel around the world or even got a good career or a business. While others wants to have there own family, a better relationship and the list goes on and on however after we achieve the wishes or the goals we set in, the question is do we feel content or do we feel that there is something lacking or is it time to move on to something different to excite us or fulfill another need?

For as long as we are living in this world there would be endless cycle of our needs and wants. We have set this ideal vision that for us to be happy we have already achieved our goals and get what we want. We are always aiming for something that is not around.

Some people work hard to achieve this while others, they just do wishful thinking and hoping that luck goes with them however wishful thinking doesn't push us into action to change.

There are some instances in our lives that we make great efforts to achieve something, and we invest everything to it however things seem to be against us. From that experience, all the negativity sinks in such as complaining and blaming others for the mishap, then eventually we become depressed, and it changed the way we see life that we become afraid to start anything new and take a risk or mistrust someone for the fear that we might commit the same mistakes or become unsuccessful. Same thing goes to people who met consistent failures that they lost all the hope and may think that they will never get the happiness they want or begin to get happiness on doing harmful behaviors such as drug addiction, sex, alcoholism, doing violent acts towards self or to someone and suicide. Although some those acts would bring them happiness in a short while, but it leaves them empty inside and it doesn't solve whatever issues that they have in reality. If things are beyond their control and issues re-appear, they return to these acts.

It is painful to see people who are into this state, and we wanted to do something to help them and we simply wanted them to find their true happiness. We might help them partially however the true help and the happiness comes from within because if they wanted to change something about their lives, they have to be ready, be resilient and have self-compassion to themselves.

Applying self-compassion is not easy to some depending on its degree, and it also takes a lot of reflection, self-acceptance to who you are including your strengths and flaws. Instead of dwelling to your imperfections, you see it as a learning opportunity and turning something positive to it.

As for the pursuit of true happiness, it would start from you, and it is not getting happiness from people, places and circumstances and you feel contented and make use of what is available instead of seeking things that are unavailable and gets frustrated and depressed when things go awry.

There is a beautiful post that I have seen online, and it says that we have to start romantizing the way we do things from day to day such as finding joy in sipping a morning coffee, doing mundane tasks and being grateful with the things and experiences, we encounter each day and by doing so it gives us the life of positivity. Simple pleasures and gratefulness lead to happiness.

In a spiritual perspective, true happiness goes hand in hand with our purpose of loving our neighbor and the Supreme Lord/God. We are doing our purpose with a genuine intention of bringing kindness, help and compassion towards others without expecting anything in return and as we follow God's will.