Happiness

What is happiness for you? 

     I’ve been procrastinating for three hours before getting to this, but I’ve got an interesting idea connected with Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. If freedom means less satisfaction in comparison with commitment, because we have all the freedom to seek better options, then it’s understandable why people are craving happiness – there is too much choice around to experience, for a price of course. They associate happiness with money as equivalent to beauty, grace and safety, looking back at aristocracy of the past. 

     The Fathers of market economy were successful in persuading everybody that possession equals happiness or satisfaction, which is usually short-lived though, as we are free to toil for the next shiny thing. I remember, even in my childhood I saw how anticipation of a thing never proved equal to having it, that is why I don’t like surprises – most of the pleasure is in anticipation so, please, don’t rob me of it. Interestingly though, that the disappointment I feel is always soon forgotten, and it takes a lot of time to learn that happiness is not there. Spending time with friends and family, drinking, travelling and possessing new things were rarely as good as I’d expected them to be, but I’m after new experiences nevertheless.

     That is not a strikingly new idea of course, the hippy movement and religion before them knew that. Meditation and mindfulness or philosophy is much more satisfying in comparison with anything external that needs effort to achieve. On the other hand, to be able to think relaxingly and with humorous detachment you have to be comfortable, alone and with plenty of time ahead. Moreover, there’s a good chance that an occasional creative work will provide the means and enough contrast to feel all the comfort.  

     I think the real happiness and satisfaction is in appreciation of the world’s beauty and humour, natural and cultural heritage and exchange of ideas with like-minded people. People who look into things have such sparkling eyes and happy smiles which business people just imitate, at least it looks like that to me. The other thing about happiness is that to feel it more it’s better not to try to explain it.    

Share your happy memories with us!