Leadership Thought #267 – Happiness Comes From Within
Happiness should come from within.
It almost seems as if there is an epidemic of unhappy people these days. Far too many people merely pass the time each day, believing there is a magic formula that will make them happy. As a result, they continually adjust their lives by making small and substantial changes, hoping that one day they will get it right. Instead of living in the present and making the best of their circumstances, many people are either too nostalgic for the past and “what could have been” or too caught up in the future and “what should be.” In their wake often lie the scattered remains of failed or stalled careers, broken relationships, emotionally scarred children, unnecessary debt burdens, unhealthy lifestyles, the complications of too much medication and therapy, and the inevitable isolation resulting from ever-increasing narcissism.
It is no wonder there is so much unhappiness. Commercial interests who want to sell us more “stuff” by locating our pain and unhappiness have carefully manipulated our expectations for years. They have mastered the art of telling us what is wrong with our lives. Bombarded with media and social messaging, we are told to put ourselves first. It’s all about how we look, how much we have, what we do for a living, not settling for less than a perfect partner, where we live, how we feel, how smart and successful our children are, where they attend school, and so on. All of this is a trap, and it only leads to one place: further unhappiness.
Happiness comes from within, not from some set of external stimuli. Of course, there are examples of people in terrible circumstances that need change, but this is the exception, not the rule (especially in a country as blessed as the United States).
The pathways for happiness have always been the same throughout the ages:
- Find your passion, and spend time cultivating that passion
- Find your talent, and spend time cultivating that talent
- Strive to build long-term, meaningful relationships that are based on mutual emotional support and respect
- Give back to others who are less fortunate than you are; make a positive difference in someone else’s life
- Live your life in the present tense and make the most of the here and now
- Take responsibility for your actions, including learning from your mistakes
- Practice acceptance and forgiveness for yourself and others as often as possible
- Avoid negative self-talk
- Don’t let fear rule your life; instead, accept it, embrace it, and move forward anyway
Life can sometimes feel like a roller coaster. There will be highs and lows. The important thing is not to overreact or think that everything must be perfect all the time.
Perspective is important. There is no silver bullet. There is nothing you can buy or a pill you can take that will make you happy for any extended period. The joy of acquiring things is ephemeral. Count your blessings. Look for the good in yourself and others. Commit to your important relationships even when they are tested. Pay attention to what truly makes you happy, not what you think or have been told should make you happy. Look inside and be true to yourself and your loved ones, and happiness will follow.
Related articles
- Happiness is just one choice away. (dailyconversationswithdad.com)
- The Real Happiness Lies in Us (socyberty.com)
- Earnestness – The Key to Living a Happy Life (psychologytoday.com)
- Happiness – part one. (drchana.com)
- The Happiness within – Heaven on Earth (one232one.wordpress.com)
