Why are we born into this world of many problems, that also offers many potential pleasures? Is it merely to collect as many fleeting moments of happiness as we can amass during our equally fleeting lifetime? Or is there some deeper purpose we ought to be pursuing to make the most of our incarnate time? Looking across the varied spectrum of humankind the answers to these questions are many and varied.
There are the few that adopt the monastic-type existence of withdrawal into a world of material abstinence and intense inner contemplation. Perhaps they give life to that unspoken guilt within many that the pursuit of happiness is somehow wrong, ie selfish, or obscuring some more profound reason for being. And there are the many that hedonistically live life as though it's all there is and thus should be milked to the full regardless of the cost to others. Of course, the majority exist somewhere between these two extremes.
One thing's for sure, you were born into this world in order to live. Though withdrawal from the world may be the chosen path of the few, it is not a path to be undertaken lightly. It is certainly not a path for those who happen to feel they've been dealt a bad hand from which they's rather escape. Rather, it's a path for those who feel they've experienced all the world has to offer in this life or those that went before. It's a positive choice of new experience.
Assuming retreat is not for you, to what extent is the pursuit of happiness appropriate? Some religious interpretations view the state of being happy as somewhat sinful, as though it's synonymous with neglecting one's earthly duty. This is nonsense. Happiness is our birthright, but not its totality.
Many people act as though happiness is a state that is aspired to, and when reached can last forever. But there is no place of lasting happiness. Instead we can experience moments of happiness and pleasure, regardless of our status, but these must always be relinquished. For as well as being born to pursue pleasure, we were also (mainly) born to experience the many ways of the world. It's as though the happy moments are the reward for completing the lessons.
Life is like an obstacle course, there is no shortage of things to test/teach us. But there's also no shortage of things to bring us joy. Sure, we have to negotiate the difficulties when they arise, but too often we focus only on the negative, neglecting the vast amount of positives that surround us every moment.
The key to happiness is finding your purpose and going for it for all you're worth. It's no wonder so many get frustrated from just drifting aimlessly along with no sense of reason. Just knowing that you're progressing towards your reason(s) for being is a great feeling. Actually, whether you get there or not is somewhat academic, since the fulfillment is usually an anticlimax compared to the journey.
Don't try too hard. Happiness is an elusive beast in that the more you actively seek it the less it's likely to appear. Instead live your life to the full. Value, and make the best of, each moment. If you can do this, happiness will inevitably follow.
Happiness is free. It doesn't come from "things." Things may bring a very shallow and short-lived happiness, but it is an illusion. We imagine that having the next best "thing" will somehow complete our happiness, and so it might seem for a very little while, until we start to desire the next best thing... Find happiness in the little things, the satisfaction of a job well done, being in the beauty of nature, spending time with loves ones...
Johnny is the editor of new age spirituality - exploring the idea that this life, this world, is not the totality of our existence. In fact, it might be just one small part of something much bigger, just one tiny step along an infinite journey... Have your say on our forum the hang out and blog A Spiritual Voice
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