We all want to be happy. It is happiness that is the driving motive of all human endeavors. The biggest hurdle in our pursuit of happiness is our thinking that what others have is better and more than what we have. We are not happy with what we have but feel bad for what others are enjoying. This kind of thinking about the perceived lack of things makes us discontented.
Mind-Body Connection
Most of us essentially seek happiness, within and without. When it comes to the outside, unlimited possibilities open out, and very few have the inclination and resources to address them. But when it comes to the inner state, however, this entirely narrows down to you. It is up to you to architect your inner life.
Given the charge of your life, for sure you would not manufacture misery for yourself. Though not mentioned as a fundamental right, you are free to think whatever you want. What then stops you from thinking constructive thoughts? The problem is just this: your mind is not taking commands from you.
A vicious cycle of pleasure and pain
We are our desires. Our desires lead us to a state where we are always looking for what we don’t have. We begin to feel unhappy and unsatisfied until our needs are met. In this state, we cannot truly enjoy what we have. Desires force us to focus on achieving them, and we invest a lot of resources to achieve them even going much beyond our capacity. Things naturally go out of control and we face failures. Each failure brings us more unhappiness. So we get into a vicious cycle of pleasure and pain.
The nature of desires
William Shakespeare’s quote about desire from As You Like It: “Can one desire too much of a good thing?” The secret of desire is that desire is merely a series of never-ending thoughts it is the tendency of the mind to always be in a state of desire. Our desires lead us to love objects. When we tend to get attached to the objects of the world, we deviate from the true purpose of life; happiness, which is to bring about the communion of the self with God. This is the only true and lasting happiness. Since nothing is permanent in this world, all other desires in this world only lead to unhappiness.
Learning to control desires
Change is inevitable and hence be welcomed. Everything that is worldly undergoes change through departure, destruction, decay, or death. Nothing and no one in this world is immortal. If we devote our time to seeking that which is not permanent, we may gain it for a while, but it will not give us lasting happiness. When we direct our thoughts properly, we can control our desires and the natural outcome is contentment.
The true contentment
When we live a contented life, we get joy from everything that comes our way. We develop compassion and forgiveness. We enjoy the time we can spend meditating, serving others, and loving all humanity. We look for happiness in the faces of the people we have helped or shown kindness to. We have the satisfaction of knowing that doing our best every day to help others is in fact the biggest “self-help”.
Let us decide to cultivate contentment. Let’s make a habit of being thankful for everything we have. Let’s resolve to minimize worldly desires. No one but you can make you happy because you have the power to change anything you want to change in yourself or in your life.
Conclusion
While external factors can undoubtedly influence our emotions, happiness being within suggests that our internal state plays a vital role in how we experience and respond to the world around us. By nurturing our inner selves, we can find a more stable and sustainable form of happiness that doesn't depend solely on external circumstances.
It's important to note that finding happiness within doesn't mean ignoring or dismissing external factors. Instead, it's about developing resilience and a positive outlook that can help us navigate life's ups and downs with a greater sense of peace and happiness.
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