The Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence guarantees us the pursuit of happiness, yet how many of us have found it? Why is it so elusive? How is it that a person can spend an entire lifetime in search of happiness and never find it?

“Oh, when I get more money, I’ll be a lot happier because I’ll be able to buy what I want.” “When I have more time, I’ll be happier because I’ll be able to do what I want.” “When I get a better job doing what I like, I’ll be happier.” This is how most people think and the problem is they’re waiting for their circumstances to change before they will allow themselves to be happy. We are taught at a very early age that circumstances define our happiness. The more I get what I want, the happier I’ll be and, though this makes sense, how long might you have to wait before you get that extra money or free time or that nicer job?

Take a minute to think about what you want. Let’s say you want more money and free time. Why do you want them? To buy things you like and do more of the things you want to do, right? This is where most people stop the analysis but if they would keep going and probe deeper, they’d find out how to make their lives happier. What do you want to buy with that extra money? A bigger house? A new car? A cruise around the world? Maybe you’d pay off all your debts and retire. Why do you want that extra free time? To pursue a hobby or interest or to be with your family more? Each of these things seems to be the goal you want to attain but, if you look a little deeper, you’ll find there’s something else you want and if you can satisfy that, you will be able to increase your level of happiness in direct proportion to how much that desire is satisfied.

Everything we do is done out of an attempt to feel good. To understand why we want the new car or house or cruise or job or the extra time to pursue our interests, we have to look at how these things will make us feel good. More often than not, a desire for money represents a desire for more freedom. If you pay off all your debts, you’re free of them. If you can afford that cruise around the world, you’re free to go take it. The desire for more time is also usually a craving for freedom. If you have the time to be with your family or pursue your interests, you’re free to do as you please.

If you can satisfy the desire that underlies the goal in your mind (more free time or more money), you can increase the amount of happiness you experience even if you don’t have all the money, free time, etc. that you initially thought you needed. To simplify this idea, let’s say you’ve always wanted to learn to play the piano but you never seemed to have the time to learn. What you want isn’t more time; it’s to learn to play the piano. If you could manage to squeeze in I lesson per week, you could begin to learn the basics and start playing the piano, which will increase your happiness a little. If you could get in 2 lessons per week, you’d be even happier. If you could get in 3 lessons per week, you’d be that much happier. You see how this works? Fulfill the underlying desire and your overall happiness will increase in direct proportion to how much attention you put on fulfilling it.

Happiness doesn’t have to be an illusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. If you can just learn what it is you truly want and take the steps necessary to fulfill that desire, a happier life will be well within reach.

Blessings,

J.H.

Explore posts in the same categories: happiness

Tags: be happier, happiness

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.