Freeing Your Life With Happiness
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This question is as old as human cognition itself. Philosophers and scientists have always wanted to know what makes us happy. In today’s landscape of chaos and turmoil, where we’re constantly looking for inner peace, we are all equal in our quest for happiness.
A smile or laughter can express feelings of joy. But is that true happiness? No definition can do justice to the feeling called happiness that can only be experienced.
I was happy once
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Let's go back to our childhood. Remember those carefree days when we had no worldly worries. We played and danced with abandon. Our mother’s lap was all we needed to sleep without a care.
We woke up looking fresh as the morning dew, ready to face the brand new day.
Today, our worries start knocking at the mind's door, the moment we hit the bed. We don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. We stress over the payments to make. We worry about the debts to clear. We cry over lost love. Where have those glorious days gone?
I’m not happy because….
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This is the most common response to this much asked question. Tell me, whose life is perfect?
Problems and solutions are so securely tied together that whoever wanted one must also be prepared for the other – whoever wanted to enjoy a bed of roses would have to be ready for the pricking thorns.
The happiest humans on this Earth are NOT those who have no problems. Things will go terribly wrong. There will be major disappointments. We’ll go through several upsetting and frightening moments. We have two options: Drown in self-pity and stay miserable or stay strong and embrace happiness.
I know I’ll be happy when…
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I pass my exam - I get married - I lose 20 pounds - Steem reaches $100.
Life goes on, even when things don't go our way. Philosophers say that we’ve got it back to front. We always view happiness on the other side of .. a problem or an achievement; whereas, happiness is waiting for us to acknowledge its presence.
It’s like an umbrella that protects us from the harsh weather. Adversity will stalk us, but we are equipped to handle it and make our way through the life God has given us.
How Can I Be Happy?
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According to Friedrich Nietzsche, the German Philosopher, life’s greatest happiness springs from our brush with adversity. Adversity is not our enemy. It is adversity that teaches the value of happiness. The measure of happiness we feel is directly proportional to the sadness we experienced in the past.
Despite all the persistent problems, the human spirit has the amazing capacity to persevere and rediscover happiness. What is required is a change in thinking and a positive attitude through the difficult times. Our mind is stubborn and doesn't take very kindly to changes, but we can convince and persuade it to do our bidding.
The 10 Commandments of Happiness
- Happiness is a choice.
- Keep negativity, hatred and anger at bay.
- Let not failures affect your confidence.
- Focus more on what you're good at.
- Take care of your physical, financial and emotional health.
- Don't go down with the downs.
- Be a contributor to your community.
- Spend time with the people you love and who give you joy.
- Make each day a party.
- Become yourself. The person you have to please in life is YOU.
Bottom Line - Choose Happiness
Ubuntu
An anthropologist was living for a while with a remote African Tribe, researching their culture and habits. Finally, when the day of his departure arrives, he places a gift basket filled with delicious local fruit under a tree. He gathers all the children from the village and tells them that the first one to run to the tree will be the winner who gets it.
The children form a line and hold hands. When the whistle blows, they start running, but without leaving each others’ hands. They then sit together and enjoy the deliciousness of the fruit. Surprised, he asks a little girl why they did that, when one of them could have been the winner of ALL the fruit. The little girl’s response was: How can one of us be happy when all others are sad?
Africans call this “Ubuntu,” which we all know as an operating system. It means, “I am because we are.”
In the words of Desmond Tutu, the South African Activist: Africans have a thing called ubuntu. We believe that a person is a person through other persons. That my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours. When I dehumanize you, I dehumanize myself. The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. Therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in community, in belonging.
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A lovely read as usual @knowledge1! :) What took your post to the next level was that awesome little story!! :)) We can learn so much from little children sometimes :)
A lovely comment from a lovely lady. :) I know.. that story is awesome, isn't it? If people strive to go back to how they were as children, pure and accepting, the world would be so different.
That's very true..it's a tragedy sometimes to think about how quickly we lost some of the innocence, acceptance, and good impressions of everything and everybody..and finding beauty and awe at all the little things we see..
more attention, awareness, and effort needs to be directed into finding beauty in small things in adulthood, I feel..
Well said, such a nice read :)
=))
Our outside experience reflect our inner state.
I especially like the last part about ubuntu. I've heard this word a few places but this is the first time I heard the meaning.
I think Desmond Tutu's words on Ubuntu express the meaning perfectly. Thanks for stopping by.
Upvoted, resteeming, tweeting and commenting for awesomeness :)
Number 2 is one of my favorites and so true. Doing things I enjoy doing has kept me happy. I moved away from everyone I know and love and it's been tough being away but instead of getting down, I do things I love and it helps fill that void. Thanks for the awesome words of wisdom!
Wow @joeyrocketfilms, you made my day! Your positivity is infectious and your intention to help others makes you almost perfect! Thank you! :)
As always - my pleasure 💙
Brilliant qnd uplifting post, it made me happy :-)
Seriously thank you for such a positive and genuinely good post.
I write based on my experiences. The day I chose to be happy was the day I started living again. A positive state of mind is what keeps us going. I'm so happy you liked it. Thank you so much. :)
Very nice post. Happiness is often described as a place that's so high that many feel that they can't achieve it. I find happiness to be in the smallest, quietest moments and can go unnoticed if you don't stop to pay attention. Also love ubuntu have you read Boyd Varty's Cathedral of the Wild? It's excellent and he talks a lot about ubuntu and his experience growing up in South Africa. Well done @knowledge1.
True, the only way to keep ourselves happy is to seek it out in everything we do. I haven't read Cathedral of the Wild but after your message, looked it up on Good Reads. It's something I'd love to read. Will place an order on Amazon today. Thank you for stopping by. :)
Let me know what you think! He also did a great TED talk you may want to check out as well.
I'm now following you so looking forward to reading more of your work too.
Just placed an order. So looking forward to reading it. I initially thought of getting the Kindle version, but decided to go with the Hardcover. And I'm a big fan of TED talks - will check it out. Following you too. I didn't have the time to look at your posts, but will do so soon. Look forward to interacting with you more. Thanks for the awesome comments. :)
Excellent! I love TED talks and reading anything that help me enlighten my mind and expand my spirit. Seems like we have that in common. Thanks for the follow and hope you enjoy reading my stuff. Looking forward to getting to know you better as well.
Wow this is so cool i love it . Just to say if there wasunt any sadness or unhappy momments how we will realise we are happy now ?
Here you go, added this after seeing your comment. Adversity is not our enemy. It is adversity that teaches us the value of happiness. The measure of happiness we feel is directly proportional to the sadness we experienced in the past.
You're always so honest and that's what I like about you. :)
Much love sweety and have a great day :)
Ubuntu, I have heard the word but didn't know about this wonderful story.
It is one of the best lessons I have ever learned: How can one of us be happy when all others are sad?
I hope to apply this thing in my life too. Thanks a lot for making my day wonderful.
For a long time, it was just an operating system for me. I read this story recently and it touched me. You're right, we can do a lot through conscious application of the lessons we learn. Thank you so much for coming by and for the appreciation. :)
Welcome, and I love to read your posts as they provide so much wisdom.
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nice post. i follow you ;)