HAPPY

I think there are way too many articles written and too many conferences around the topic of how to get to the place where you want to be. In real life scenarios, it probably means how to climb corporate ladder, how to be profitable in business, how to earn more money until you reach the state where you will yell “Enough!” (Would any amount of money be enough?)

Nobody tells you how to be happy. I mean, nobody tells you that formally or directly. You caught it while growing up and by observing other happy people. Or maybe your folks told you that when you marry the right man or the right woman, you will be happy. Happy for the rest of your life. When you scored all As in exams, you will be happy. When you win a game, you will be happy. When you receive a gift, you will be happy. So, achieving target equals happy? Who placed the targets anyway? Have you met people who told you that you are happy? Wherever you are. Whatever you do. At that very moment.

What is happiness, exactly? I remember telling someone years ago that I just wanna be happy. She told me to be filled with joy instead. Happiness should not be the aim. She said that joy comes from within while happiness depend on circumstances. I understand it theoretically. Practically, no. Despite all the lecture about happiness and joy, I still don’t quite comprehend how both are explained as separate entities. To me, both are linked and related. And apparently, you can choose to be happy.

Is happiness a choice? Happiness is an emotion or a feeling. I know for one thing emotions exist for purposes. It is to tell your mind something. It is to tell you what is good and what is harmful.

I am strongly against ignoring feelings. We are made to feel. We are not made to ignore unhappiness and switch to being happy at split second. However, we can choose to want to be happy. Well, it’s not like you tell yourself to be happy even though your world is crumbling down and your pet kitten just died and you went around happily clapping like a psychotic woman. I might send you to a mental hospital for that.

So, mourn, let go and be thankful. Do the things that make you happy. Feed your soul. Go for a long walk. Watch kids fool around at the park. Do the chicken dance. Watch the sunset. Paint the sky. Draw cartoons. Read a good book. Watch a good film. Heart to heart talk with someone. Hang out with friends. Buy a shoe. Help the blind cross the road. Feed the poor. Plant a tree. Decorate your room. Bake chocolate cake. Eat ice-cream. Do whatever that makes your soul happy. Harmony. Peace.
It’s in what you do and how you react to situations that will have an impact on the level of happiness in your life.

 Do something. Be happy. To do is to be. To do things that make you happy is to be happy.