Owning Your Happiness

In a previous post: https://link.medium.com/DTj4ZaqoVib, i highlighted how societal programming made us to outsource our happiness from a very young age. Now I will share on how we should own our happiness.

Associating our happiness to people, things, acquisitions gives us temporary euphoria, this association is clear in the “some day” cliché, I.e. I will be happy when I get married, when I pass this exam, when I have more zeros in my saving account, etc. These things are good, and everyone should aspire to achieve them. But attaching your happiness to people, things, achievements etc is a never ending sport.

The concept of Hedonic Adaptation is why the happiness we feel after achieving a milestone, goal or acquisition fizzles out in a short time, and we chase another set of goals to make us happy. We return to our normal level of happiness and sometimes feel empty after some accomplishments.

Societal and media standards of happiness are why some can’t enjoy special moments if it’s short of these standards. Some aren’t happy with their bodies, jobs, careers, families and friends because it falls short of the “ideal standard” set by the media and society.

Associating our happiness to these standards makes us unhappy because these standards are cosmetic and inconsistent .

Your happiness is your responsibility, and it should be on your terms.

.Start owning your happiness by redefining the terms and meaning of your happiness by

.Enjoying the process of goals accomplishments.

.Breaking down major goals into smaller goals and celebrating little wins.

.Seeking mutually benefiting relationships.

.Enjoying the common things in life, like walking, nature, landscape, etc.

.Spending time with friends and family.

.Becoming more self aware.

.Loving yourself more

.Practicing gratitude.

We should feel happiness daily. We should derive it from our daily lives, the process of our accomplishments, and in basic things.

Happiness is not a feeling or an experience; it’s a choice you make. One of the most important decisions that will guarantee your happiness is deciding not to compete with others. Life is a single-player game. You’re not up against anybody. Focus on being you and stop comparing your life with others. Eric Jorgenson, The Almanack Of A Naval Ravikant”

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