What is happiness?

Wait what!  such an absurd topic....you may be thinking but happiness is the ultimate goal for many of us. From what we learnt  as children is that happiness is external that if we somehow possessed material assets and certain status symbols then will be happy. The problem with that thinking is that it makes happiness a condition. If I have this particular car ,job or person in my life then I will be happy. That ''then'' really gets us into trouble. The most ironic thing about life is that search for happiness in so many places, mostly all the wrong places but happiness always has and always will be within you. All you have to do is discover it.

Honestly, I know some of you may have trouble coming to terms with this but ask yourself this,'' Are you really freeing yourself from the things that do not positively serve you?''. Examine your life honestly.

I have noticed that some people seem very happy but others eyes betray a sort of sadness that cannot be denied. These people make plans; I am going to graduate law school, have a husband, 5 kids and live in the country side. They don't think they just keep moving forward. They sometimes manage to achieve all of this and sometimes more, so they think that the purpose of their life has somehow been fulfilled. So they don't ever ask themselves,'' Am I really happy?''

What I can't say if this applies to everyone but from what I noticed they keep themselves very busy to distract themselves from that nagging voice that makes them think they are inferior. They then think that achieving all of this means a fulfilled life. Does it? Have you ever just stopped to question yourself on whether whatever you are doing is making you happy. Many times we forget this simple question.

So what makes you happy? Is it the cars, money , women, children, luxury vacations? Can you honestly say that is the true meaning of life? I am certain that if I asked you whether these material things truly made you happy you would try to change the topic or get mad? Because HONESTLY you haven't found out for yourself what makes you tick, what truly inspires you and makes you absolutely content to be alive. My challenge for you is simple just  discover your happiness now!

xoxoxo
Heart Follower

Life Lessons 1- I am not the center of the universe!

''Everything in my own immediate experience supports my deepest belief that I am the absolute center of the universe, the realest, most vivid and important person in existence. We rarely think about this sort of natural, basic self-centeredness because it's so socially repulsive. But it's pretty much the same for all of all. It's hardwired into our boards at birth. Think about it: there is no experience you have had that you are not the absolute center of. The world as you experience it is there in front of YOU or behind YOU, to the left or right of YOU, on YOUR TV or YOUR monitor. Other people's thoughts and feelings have to be communicated to you, but your own are so immediate, urgent, real.''-David Foster Wallace, 2005, This Is Water

It is almost impossible to think from a perspective other than that of your own. Every thought, well nearly all of them some how link back to you and your life. Yes we do think about other people but not nearly as frequently, with as much focus and intensity as you do when you think of yourself. Think of doing volunteer work you might think its a purely a self-less act, you might think you do it to please and make others happy and why because making others happy makes you feel good about yourself. Perhaps there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

We live in a time which glorifies self-indulgent, self-gratification and self-advancement. We think that if we achieve those states we  will be happy. But happiness is already within us and we don't need money, fame or material assets to awaken it, all it takes is awareness. The awareness that the true purpose of life is not to accumulate stuff but to contribute other people's lives meaningfully, to contribute meaningfully is to give beyond ourselves that's the life lesson that is here.

xoxoxo
Heart Follower