Happiness – Part 1
We seem to have a collective thought in the western world that achievement equals success. We push ourselves forwards with thoughts of inferiority and the feeling of failure. If we begin with a definition of happiness, it may well help us to actually achieve that as a goal.
Generally speaking, feeling good is everyones goal and there are two basic feelings, that of good and bad, and nobody want to feel bad surely? Assuming youre still with me, Ill carry on. The desire to feel good usually attaches itself to the need to go out and buy things. Most people think that if they drove a nicer car then they would feel good, but honestly, how many times have we all bought something and then the thrill of owning it is short-lived at best.
We are pre-programmed to believe that material goods will lead to happiness. If that is the case, why are so many millionaires miserable? Why are so many around the world who live in squalor still happier than you are?
It is because the way we judge success is flawed. We always compare out achievements to those that we know have been the most successful, which is always bound to make us feel bad, however if you compare your achievements to most people around the world, the chances are that you will discover youre not doing too badly at all.
Success and wealth can be measured in different ways. Contentment is a blessing that very few possess, but it is an attribute of the most successful people I know. To be happy with your lot in life is the fundamental goal of us all. Foolishly we all believe that if we had more stuff then we would be more contented and thus happy. What actually happens in the majority of instances is that when you accumulate more, you then have the added stress of protecting all your stuff as well as not losing what you have gained.
It is the attitude that you develop now that will make the difference in the future. If you arent happy with the few possessions you might have now, then gaining more isnt going to get you there. It is being contented with who you are and what you have in the here and now that brings true wealth and happiness.