Happiness is within our reach

By Murli Chari

Happiness is eluding everyone of us however wealthy we may be. The very purpose of life is happiness. It is a mistaken notion that more money means more happiness. Rich people have their own unique sadness. They are worried how to protect their wealth. They are surrounded by sycophants and soothsayers out to grab their share of the loot. It is said that success may not lead necessarily lead to success but happiness does lead to success. Being happy and cheerful for no reason is the sure shot recipe for a fulfilled life. The whole of mankind is searching in vain for happiness in material things. Even a lowly paid human being with meagre resources is happy if he is contended and is only focused on two happy meals. Billions of dollars are spent just to seek happiness. Some find in wining and dining and others in drugs. Some in gormandizing. There are no size fits all formula for happiness. Greed will never lead to lasting happiness. Gratitude and contentment surely ensure happiness. Depending on external factors for happiness is sure shot recipe for misery. Reliance on outside factors makes us addicted to hedonism. Happiness is different from pleasure which is ephemeral. We are so much embroiled in the mundane and routine that we lose sight of the fact that we need to be happy all the time. It is the fear insecurity about the unknown future that compels us to hoard wealth at any cost resorting to unscrupulous and devious means. There is a famous aphorism that “Take care of the present and the future takes care of itself. Happiness depends more on contentment and living in the moment. Overreliance on external factors for happiness is a recipe for disaster and misery. Watch small children with an innocent smile, their pranks and simplicity keeping them happy. Even when they have a fight with their buddies and patch up immediately. They treat every moment as an evanescent one enjoying and squeezing out the best out of every situation. Carrying guilts, fear of the unknown and insecurity take away the moments of happiness. All the birds, trees and animals are happy for no reason if their basic needs are met. We make our lives miserable by being over ambitious. Most of the pursuits of happiness is nothing but running after the chimera and hedonism. True happiness does not require any material riches. Just imagine having a cup of tea with your close friends at a roadside shanty tea stall and you would each the heights of ecstasy and euphoria. On the other hand, you are having a costly branded alcohol with your business pals. The former instance would linger as nostalgic reminiscence for ages together and the latter would be forgotten after a couple of days. The happiness you derive in the former instance is priceless and does not cost a fortune. A transient feeling of hedonism is more like an addiction as with the passage of time the happiness fades away. Whereas time spent with the loved ones without cost will give you immense happiness and it is close to eternity.

We need to encourage happiness which does not cost a dime. Watching sunrise and sunset for a long period, watching birds fly, sunbathing on the blue lagoon watching the tidal waves on the ocean, waterfalls and watching a starlit night with full moon are all free and gives immense happiness. We all need to make a paradigm shift in our philosophy of equating happiness with immense wealth. All the problems and miseries in the world including terrorism, wars, skirmishes, violence, mayhem and devastation are the means to feel happy which is a paradox. In seeking happiness, we are creating animosity and causing harm to others. True happiness is one which makes others as well happy and being selfless. We would have experienced true happiness when we extended a helping hand to someone who is in dire straits. Whenever we acted selfishly, we feel anxiety and stress. When we are generous, helpful our brain releases lot of happiness enzymes. Its time the whole of humanity makes a firm commitment to spread happiness and we would have bid goodbye to violence