There’s a deep external pressure for us all to be all that we can be. As a society, we constantly push towards being bigger and better and fulfilling all of our potential. It’s an idealistic viewpoint that makes us feel closer to utopia, but just because we can do something, does it mean we should?
No one knows for certain the purpose of life, but I’m starting to believe that it’s to enjoy it. Though it differs from person to person, it seems that everyone is searching for happiness. And happiness is something that shifts and changes; it will never be constant as the world around us is not static. It takes an effort from within, yes, but it also takes realizing that the world will never fully be under our control and that sometimes the best thing we can do is to let life happen instead of trying to make it happen.
There are so many messages that tell us that we’ll be happier if only we keep pushing ourselves. So, when we’re unsatisfied, we push even harder. Life has stopped being a journey and has become a race — one with the prize of eternal bliss if only we work hard enough to reach the finish line. But our lives aren’t a race and happiness isn’t some end goal off in the distance — it’s right here and right now! It’s a choice that we make based on gratitude for the things we have — not the things we think we will eventually get. It’s taking the pressure off of ourselves to have control and order over every aspect of our lives and being open to the serendipitous nature of our existence.
It’s being okay with doing the things that you enjoy as much as you enjoy them — instead of thinking that their worth comes when you have mastered them (or made a profit from them). Happiness is realizing all that you could be in certain areas and then being okay if you aren’t. Happiness is acceptance — of yourself, of your life, and the people around you.
How will you choose happiness today?
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Image Credit: Andreyah Portilla / Flickr
Happiness rises within us and all around us).. Thank you for sharing
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