Do you aspire to be happy? Assumption-everyone aspires to reach a point of happiness. What’s interesting is that although everyone has a desire to be happy, how each individual visualizes happiness is different. What differentiates the EXTRAordinary from the ordinary is their unique perspective on “normal”.
In a conversation with a long time friend they said, “I just want you to be happy.” Beautiful sentiment, isn’t it? The challenge with this statement is the implication that from their perspective happiness was missing from my life. What I have come to realize is that we all have different definitions of happiness. Some see the constant pursuit of more - however “more” is defined - as not being happy. Others see that constant pursuit for more as not being satisfied, content or complacent. My position is that happiness is subjective. Happiness is fleeting, a moment in time -a point when you pause and you are aware that you are “happy”.
One can be grateful for the life they live; the highs, the lows and the days in between, but it doesn't mean that in the very moment when faced with a challenge they stop and think how grateful they are to struggle with figuring something out and make it work. For those who are in the constant pursuit for more it may seem like they spend more of the hours or days in the struggle of the pursuit and less time smelling the roses and reflecting on what an amazing life they live, but it doesn’t mean they are not happy.
Let me ask you, who would you be without each of those moments? Those good, those bad, those ugly moments, and also the amazingly magnificent moments that you have experienced? Would you have experienced the amazing moments without the good and the bad?
The concept of being happy isn't lost on me, but I am not convinced that this single moment will withstand the test of time, trials and tribulations, or even subdue aspirations for more out of life. The concept that people are pursuing happiness as if once they are happy life stops and they have achieved their life's purpose just doesn't resonate with me. Let's just imagine that people pursue happiness and reach this goal. Do they then stop or is there something more to be achieved?
Who would you be without the burning desire for more? Who would you be without the feeling of dissatisfaction when you know there could be more? You would be ordinary. Since you're reading this, I know you're EXTRAordinary. Now go be unhappy, do something amazing! Be SimplyDriven.
In a conversation with a long time friend they said, “I just want you to be happy.” Beautiful sentiment, isn’t it? The challenge with this statement is the implication that from their perspective happiness was missing from my life. What I have come to realize is that we all have different definitions of happiness. Some see the constant pursuit of more - however “more” is defined - as not being happy. Others see that constant pursuit for more as not being satisfied, content or complacent. My position is that happiness is subjective. Happiness is fleeting, a moment in time -a point when you pause and you are aware that you are “happy”.
One can be grateful for the life they live; the highs, the lows and the days in between, but it doesn't mean that in the very moment when faced with a challenge they stop and think how grateful they are to struggle with figuring something out and make it work. For those who are in the constant pursuit for more it may seem like they spend more of the hours or days in the struggle of the pursuit and less time smelling the roses and reflecting on what an amazing life they live, but it doesn’t mean they are not happy.
Let me ask you, who would you be without each of those moments? Those good, those bad, those ugly moments, and also the amazingly magnificent moments that you have experienced? Would you have experienced the amazing moments without the good and the bad?
The concept of being happy isn't lost on me, but I am not convinced that this single moment will withstand the test of time, trials and tribulations, or even subdue aspirations for more out of life. The concept that people are pursuing happiness as if once they are happy life stops and they have achieved their life's purpose just doesn't resonate with me. Let's just imagine that people pursue happiness and reach this goal. Do they then stop or is there something more to be achieved?
Who would you be without the burning desire for more? Who would you be without the feeling of dissatisfaction when you know there could be more? You would be ordinary. Since you're reading this, I know you're EXTRAordinary. Now go be unhappy, do something amazing! Be SimplyDriven.
Copyright 2011 SimplyDriven All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment