Happiness in the modern fast-pace era seems so elusive that sometimes I think we are in search of the societal label instead of the actual meaning of happiness for each individual.
What does happiness really consist of? When I was younger, I used to think it was getting A’s in all the subjects all the time in school, and getting compliments & acknowledgements from teachers, and this concept lasted until half way through college. When everyone in the same dorm had dates, I thought happiness was having a loving and handsome boyfriend. After coming out of school, people around me all started to have families and make babies, and I thought, yes, those were what I needed to make me happy. That soon transitioned to having a nice house and settle down somewhere with nice neighborhoods and good weather, and with great job opportunities. At work, I thought getting some professional awards could make me happy too.
But were those beliefs sound? They existed for a reason, yes, because those things I listed were what the society deemed “standard/normal” to have/do. You have/do what the peers have, so you can blend in and feel that you belong. However, the question is: do they truly make you happy? The concept of happiness that change with circumstances and does not last cannot hold the promise to last.
After experimentation and a great deal of introspection, I finally am able to put my ingredients of happiness into words: having a goal, having the conviction to reach for it, and seeing progress of the process. Setting a goal sounds very generic, and we all have different goals, but having the conviction to achieve it is very critical. For me, I have strong conviction in self improvement and inspire others, so any goal that I set to improve myself will count. Specifically, the goal also include professional goal and personal goals, when I am clear on the and having specific plans of action to achieve, I feel happy. Happiness should be a process, not an end result. Just like the quote from the movie “The pursuit of happiness”, we should rephrase it into “The happiness of pursuit”.
Where does your happiness lie?
Happy Healthy Helping 