What is Happiness?
Often times we depend on someone or something to make us happy. We think, “When I’ll make x amount of $, I’ll be happy,” or “When I’ll meet someone special…” or “When I quit my job…” or “When I’ll get married…,” or “When… (fill the blank).” List goes on. What we do not realize is that we can be happy right here, right now. We usually seek happiness outside ourselves, when Happiness is an inner state of mind. Often times, people comment that I always smile, I am always happy. That’s what I choose to be. My personal motto is “Life is too short to be unhappy.”
You may protest, “How can I be happy if I lost my job, if there is a shortage of money, if kids are making me crazy, etc., etc.”? These are only your life situations, transitional events, opportunities for a change. They do not make who you are. They do not define your being. Look at the 3rd world countries. People there do not have much, but they sing and laugh like nothing matters. Look at children – every small thing fascinates them. It does not make much to make them happy.
In Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus, one of the synonyms for “happiness” is gladness. My happiness consists of gratitude. I’m very grateful for everyday that I live. I’m grateful for my family and friends. I’m grateful for my life. That’s all what is important to me. Sure, there might be worries or unsatisfied wishes or frustrating events. They are nothing compared that I’m so fortunate to have what is important to me: my family, friends, pets, my health and my life.
Problems do not define who we are. They are just the next steps in our lives to get to the higher level, to go to the next transition. We can fight it and be miserable, or we can go with the flow – make choices which way to go. Life is all about choices. It is a matter of opening the doors and go whatever direction we choose to. Now if there seems no doors, we can always make them by breaking the wall.
When I’m in the state of happiness, it does not take much to be happy. When I’m in the state of gratitude, everything – the smallest things fascinate me: a blooming rose, a walk on the beach, wind in the hair, sunshine, puppy’s hug, to hug and kiss my family and friends.
Life is too precious. Enjoy every minute of it one smile at the time, minute by minute, and be grateful of what you have.
