By Shazad
“With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.”
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
We all seek to be happy and live in such a state. Everyone is pursuing this goal to some degree or other, it seems. But what does it mean, and how can you sustainably do this instead of the hedonistic and materialistic way that is marketed on social media? Let’s take a look at some advice from the Awesome Life book, Chapter 11 titled “Pursuit of Happiness”.
“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”
Epictetus
Money Can’t Buy Happiness?
Like most people, you probably jumped to having more cash, gold, bitcoin, and wealth in general. Seems natural to think that if you had more money, you could be happier. The reality is that after a certain amount of income and savings, it doesn’t matter how much you make or have in the bank. The proof is in seeing the lives of the ultra wealthy vs those who are comfortable in life but are not billionaires, and many of the happiest people are not even millionaires! They are just content living their lives on their terms with little or no debt and having good relationships. Very wealthy people like the top billionaires of the world have a lot of responsibilities and attention focused on them all the time. Such ultra-wealthy and even moderately rich people need constant security and special handlers to get through their day safely and with sanity.
The truly happy people in the world focus on health, some free time, great relationships, and giving back to society in some way. They don’t aspire to “Have Everything” or “Own the Best”. They are content with a few nice things and mostly average things like reliable cars, quality shoes, and good education. The happiest people tend to be minimalists in the way they think, live, and work. Their calendars aren’t full of things to do, and they don’t constantly check their bank account or business revenues to make sure they are still on some elite list of wealthy people. Being content in life certainly requires a certain amount of wealth, but a lot less than most people imagine! The bonus of having and maintaining good health is that you don’t need to spend significant money fixing diseases and getting treatment for lifestyle-related conditions. That means more money and time left over to enjoy the things you love! Truly Priceless!
"Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influence of the earth."
Henry David Thoreau
Happiness from Nature
Do you remember those days or even an afternoon in nature? That time you went to the park by the lake with the family and had a great time as you ate outside and played some sports? You felt amazing in the moment and then tired but grateful when you got home. That same evening was the best sleep you’ve had in years, and the next day you woke up a different person. That’s the power of being in nature. It’s healing and energizing in the right ways as much as it challenges you with the sun, air, and water. It’s truly a happy day when we can spend time outside at a local park or camping in a conservation area for a few days. Happy people get outside often and enjoy their time while they are experiencing nature.
“Thereby does Allah guide those who seek His pleasure on the paths of peace, and leads them out of every kind of darkness into light by His will, and guides them to the right path.”
Holy Quran 5:17
Happiness from Conscious Effort
The sad reality is that we’re not always going to be happy. Life has challenges and unexpected twists that derail even our best-laid plans. We will experience hardship, struggle, and maybe suffering at times. The good news is that we can choose to frame these moments as temporary, growth opportunities and even necessary for radical life changes we may need to make. It’s easy to play the “Victim” card, and many do. The brave and truly happy ones figure out what lesson the hardship offers. Where can we correct our course on our journey, and what choices are we making to get through this difficult time? By focusing on what’s in our power and what’s NOT up to us, we can figure out a way forward that makes sense for us. We have to keep trying to seek meaning and understanding in life to be truly happy, vs. floating around like a rubber ducky in the ocean of existence. Our inner Sea Hawk inspires us to take charge of our life and our mood to make the most of the way things turn out.
One of the best ways to sustain your happiness is to create your personal Top 10 List of things that make you happy. Write out each one on a small piece of paper like an index card or business card, and carry this with you everywhere you go. The next time you are lacking in joy, take out your Top 10 List and smile. Go one step further and express gratitude for those happy things that are still in your life, as well as some of the things you look forward to. Being grateful is essential for your happiness and mental well-being because Happiness and Gratitude have an Awesome connection to each other. One nourishes the other in a virtuous cycle that never ends. Like two sides of the same lucky coin, you become happier when you are more grateful and as a result, you express more gratitude for your happy life!
Live Awesome!
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