Provided by WSB from Livin On
Blog: https://livingon.home.blog/
The need to be happy is a need that consumes many, if not all people. We all want to be happy, More specifically we all want to be in a constant state of happiness.
We love and fear happiness. We love happiness because it’s uplifting and takes us out of the sadness that many of us live in, and we fear it because we often find that it doesn’t last. In many cases happiness leaves as fast as it comes, leaving us desperate, and willing to do anything to achieve it.
The search for happiness is like a drug, and we’re always in constant pursuit of it, with nothing to show for it when we’re done. In many cases, we have moments where we’re happy, then the high leaves and we’re transported back to reality. Some of us even feel silly for having pursued it in the first place.
But what if happiness isn’t meant to be a constant state? What if happiness only exists in brief moments? Teasing us as it comes, and leaving us yearning for more. What if happiness can only exist in short bursts of time?
We find happiness in events that don’t have a long shelf life. For example the happiness felt when getting your dream job, can only last as long as it can. The happiness you felt when finally seeing your loved one after a year can only last so long and so on.
I ask you to think of moments when you were truly happy. What made you happy and could that happiness have lasted longer based on the event?
The same theory should be applied to sadness. Sadness can only last so long, though we tend to think it overstays its visit, sadness cannot reign in our hearts forever because there are other emotions to experience. We cannot be defined by one emotion, which is why we have to calm our hearts by reminding ourselves that the storm will pass, and that life will get better.
Accepting the fact that happiness is fickle, and comes and goes as it pleases may help us come to terms with the fact that not everyone is happy all the time. It may also help us better appreciate the moments when we find that we are actually filled with joy and a smile exists in our hearts, because though it may not last, it exists and it is there, and it is possible.
When’s the last time you were truly happy?
Do you think you have trouble believing that not everyone is happy all the time? If you do believe this saying do your actions reflect this belief?
Tips and tricks- in times of sadness remind yourself that the storm will indeed pass.
Most of the time I try to stay happy…😊😊😊😉😉😉😉
What do you do to stay happy?
I do something that I like to do…for example, writing…😊😊😉
Wow! Simply loved the post! It was filled with words of truth and wisdom. The reality of life and happiness too. How every moment fleets away from us, leaving nothing but a new present moment, which has also passed and there’s a new one!
Thanks for sharing!!
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Hehe…I tried replying right from the email I got…And all this crap got set in…
It’s ok. At least you know it worked 😀
I can’t even remember the last time I was actually happy. Personally I would rather strive for contentment as a sort of resting neutral state.
How often do you get to contentment?
These days, not very often.
How come?
Depression
Happiness is fleeting. Joy can be constant, no matter what the situation. It is all a matter of thought.
Yes, and thoughts can be hard to control sometimes, especially when emotions are all over the place.
I like this post too 😊 Some thought provoking, reflective questions.
The pursuit of happiness can very much be like pursuit of a drug- fruitless and unfulfilling by virtue of the effort of pursuit itself. Happiness does feel really good when it happens, but it is fleeting and the discontent we often feel at not feeling happy all the time can diminish the vast range of other positive experiences we can have daily- gratefulness, security, enjoyment, curiosity, engagement, liking of things and people, loving feelings, relaxed feelings, self-pride….. I could keep going.
The last time I felt happy for a period was for a month or two last year. I was in a transitional phase in my life and enjoying the novelty, exploration, new learnings, experiences and felt a great deal of acceptance for the imperfections in my life. It was also coincident with a period of grief for the death of a family member and several other unusual, difficult experiences. I felt happy and that co-existed with my grief and some disappointments in my life.
The last time I experienced moments of happiness was several times this week on a camping trip when I redirected my attention from my thinking, talking mind to the sensations I was experiencing.
I don’t believe in the existence of perpetual happiness for anyone, but I do see people who are more skilled and focusing on, and valuing the important things to them and I’m always getting better at this.
Thai is an awesome experience! What main reason you redirected your attention towards the sensations you were experiencing?
I suppose the main reason could be summed up by the trending movement towards ‘mindfulness’, which is simply a mental process that we all engage in occasionally without intention. For a long time in my life I’ve been practising learning to pay attention to the present more actively and frequently, which can include bodily sensations. I’ve made a lot of progress in doing this more habitually, but always learning more and it waxes and wanes depending on phases I’m going through. Very beautiful and rewarding experiences when I can do it, though, and I had the intention to do this more actively as one of my motivations for my camping trip.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful reply, and I’m so glad you liked the post!
The last time I was truly happy was Thanksgiving weekend with my daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren
Awesome! 😀