What is happiness? Can we measure happiness? Is there a mathematical formula which can be used to define happiness? How can one person be happy in a situation and another is not in the exact same situation? If its hot summer, a rich person can only be happy if the AC is working, a middle class person (who can’t afford AC) wants fan to be happy, a poor fella who can’t even afford fan, will be happy if there is a wind! So, the meaning of happiness differs from person to person! And this example does not mean that money brings more comfort which brings happiness, as money is not always responsible for happiness. You can have a person without money, still happy and enjoying his life! Similarly, another person with lots of money, but not happy! So, what is happiness?
Happiness is a state of our mind, and it’s relative to our choices, lifestyle and a lot of other stuff which can control our happiness. According to Lord Buddha:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts. It is made up of our thoughts. If one speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows one, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the wagon.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts. It is made up of our thoughts. If one speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows one, like a shadow that never leaves.”
So, Buddha talks about happiness and sorrow as result of our thoughts. I do agree with this, to certain degree. Don’t get me wrong, I am a religious person, and my religion is Sanatana dharma, popularly called as Hindu Dharma, by people who don’t know the actual religion. My religion gives me rights to even challenge the god’s saying and put a counter argument if I don’t agree with it. So, I don’t agree with Buddha’s saying in full, but it’s indicating in the same direction as my thoughts are moving. I will write someday about my Dharma as well, but in some other post.
So, coming back to the topic, “Happiness” is what we feel, when we get a satisfaction, or achieve something which we wanted. Sorrow or sadness is just opposite of it. So, happiness is a feeling, and it is directly linked with our lust or desire. If you don’t have desire for something, you won’t get happiness even if you get it. Some people might argue that they were happy when they got some unexpected stuff in their life, but I think that even if that is unexpected, but you still had the desire for it, hence the satisfaction and happiness comes along!
So, if happiness is just a feeling, is it possible to be happy always? Can we carry that feeling with us all the time? I think it is possible, it just requires some changes in your perception of looking at things.
"Happiness is not a mere pleasurable feeling, a fleeting emotion, or a mood, but an optimal state of being. It is a way of interpreting the world. While it may be difficult to change the world, it is always possible to change the way we look at it." (Happiness, Little Brown, 2007).
So, if we need to be happy, just try to look at the positive things around you, and not just let yourself down with the negative things in life! This will keep you happy and when you are happy, you are more energetic, more creative and achieve much higher grounds! Still not convinced? Take another example, remember last time you were not happy? Looking back at those time, thinking about how that phase of unhappiness passed, and what challenges you faced at that time, chances are that it will bring smile on your face! So, thinking about the past, which was not a happy period, brings smile, then why was it not a happy time? Also, some of us always complain about our current situation like job, studies, families etc. But, those of us also remember our past as a good or better period of life, as compared to the current one! So, we are not enjoying our present, complaining about that, and when the same present becomes past, we like it! When you were in school, it was difficult, when you join collage, it was difficult again, but you think of your school days as some of the best days of your life, then you more to a job or business, again difficult, and the memories of collage are priceless! So, what is it? Why the present or current situation is always difficult period, and the same is good memories a while later? It’s the perception of looking at things, which decide what brings happiness in our heart!
What steps do we need to take to change our perception?
So, if we master this, or change our perception, then we can deeply connect with people, unleash our creativity, even enjoy the raging traffic, not only listen, but humm the songs on radio while you wait for the jam to clear, and return home to embrace your family in a blanket of love and caring.
Signing off for today, see you soon!
Happiness is a state of our mind, and it’s relative to our choices, lifestyle and a lot of other stuff which can control our happiness. According to Lord Buddha:
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts. It is made up of our thoughts. If one speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows one, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the wagon.
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. It is founded on our thoughts. It is made up of our thoughts. If one speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows one, like a shadow that never leaves.”
So, Buddha talks about happiness and sorrow as result of our thoughts. I do agree with this, to certain degree. Don’t get me wrong, I am a religious person, and my religion is Sanatana dharma, popularly called as Hindu Dharma, by people who don’t know the actual religion. My religion gives me rights to even challenge the god’s saying and put a counter argument if I don’t agree with it. So, I don’t agree with Buddha’s saying in full, but it’s indicating in the same direction as my thoughts are moving. I will write someday about my Dharma as well, but in some other post.
So, coming back to the topic, “Happiness” is what we feel, when we get a satisfaction, or achieve something which we wanted. Sorrow or sadness is just opposite of it. So, happiness is a feeling, and it is directly linked with our lust or desire. If you don’t have desire for something, you won’t get happiness even if you get it. Some people might argue that they were happy when they got some unexpected stuff in their life, but I think that even if that is unexpected, but you still had the desire for it, hence the satisfaction and happiness comes along!
So, if happiness is just a feeling, is it possible to be happy always? Can we carry that feeling with us all the time? I think it is possible, it just requires some changes in your perception of looking at things.
"Happiness is not a mere pleasurable feeling, a fleeting emotion, or a mood, but an optimal state of being. It is a way of interpreting the world. While it may be difficult to change the world, it is always possible to change the way we look at it." (Happiness, Little Brown, 2007).
So, if we need to be happy, just try to look at the positive things around you, and not just let yourself down with the negative things in life! This will keep you happy and when you are happy, you are more energetic, more creative and achieve much higher grounds! Still not convinced? Take another example, remember last time you were not happy? Looking back at those time, thinking about how that phase of unhappiness passed, and what challenges you faced at that time, chances are that it will bring smile on your face! So, thinking about the past, which was not a happy period, brings smile, then why was it not a happy time? Also, some of us always complain about our current situation like job, studies, families etc. But, those of us also remember our past as a good or better period of life, as compared to the current one! So, we are not enjoying our present, complaining about that, and when the same present becomes past, we like it! When you were in school, it was difficult, when you join collage, it was difficult again, but you think of your school days as some of the best days of your life, then you more to a job or business, again difficult, and the memories of collage are priceless! So, what is it? Why the present or current situation is always difficult period, and the same is good memories a while later? It’s the perception of looking at things, which decide what brings happiness in our heart!
What steps do we need to take to change our perception?
- Think Positive – avoid negative thoughts about anything or anyone!
- Forgive and forget – Forgive others mistakes and forget about those
- Control your desires – this is the main one, when you are free from desire, you will not feel pain of losing it to someone!
So, if we master this, or change our perception, then we can deeply connect with people, unleash our creativity, even enjoy the raging traffic, not only listen, but humm the songs on radio while you wait for the jam to clear, and return home to embrace your family in a blanket of love and caring.
Signing off for today, see you soon!
Comments
I especially appreciated the part about tough times becoming priceless memories - so true!
What is happiness?
Happiness is a grateful heart.
Live Life Happy!
But now I am confused am I really Happy :)