What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “Happiness”? A Salary hike, an unexpected promotion, a shopping festival, a big car, a big house, an exotic holiday or partying with friends? Ask a 5 years old and may be talking about his favourite toy or a box full of chocolates will bring a smile on his face. For a teenager, happiness can be talking to his/her crush for the first time. For grandparents, playing with their grandchildren brings a smile on their faces. Does that mean happiness has to be categorised age wise? No, even two same aged group persons can have different definitions of happiness. A poor man may feel happy when he is able to make ends meet while a rich may feel happy on living life king size. Again, does that imply that happiness depends on your financial status. No, then what really defines “Happiness” ?
Happiness as defined by some is the state of being happy. True, but how do we reach that state? Do we really need to make an effort to achieve happiness? Not really, I guess. Because happiness has to be felt and it is something that comes naturally. When you are truly happy, everybody can see it on your face. Your smile will be broader, laughter louder, mind calmer, heartbeat faster, eyes brighter and soul purer.
Another aspect of happiness is contentment. Happiness and contentment are strongly related.Whatever contents you will definitely make you happy and whatever makes you happy should content you. All the material possessions may give you momentary happiness but will not content you completely. Because, once you get something, you will run after something else that may have a higher monetary value and that race will never end. This will take away all your peace of mind and what you will be left with are just material possessions. Talking about all this does not indicate that we do not need money or other material possessions. But all we really need to do is to stop running after the things, sit back, relax and appreciate the little things in life. Spend time with your family, meet your old friends, travel to a place where you always wanted to go, pursue a hobby, listen to your favourite music, dance like nobody is watching you, feel the rain drops on your face, listen to birds chirping in the morning, take out sometime for yourself and do what you love to do the most and above all create memories everyday so that you can cherish them later and feel happy about them.
Do not push yourself too hard to get something that you lose everything else in the process and when you actually get it there’s no one else to share your happiness with.
Also, neither do we need to wait for the right moment to be happy nor do we need to look for a reason to be happy. If we keep on waiting for the right moment or a reason to rejoice, we will keep delaying our happiness forever and may never get it. Because neither time waits for anybody nor does the happiness.
In the end, all I can say is that there may be different definitions of Happiness depending on how people perceive it. But, one thing is certain that Happiness is not a goal to be achieved, it is definitely not just an item in your ” To do list”. Rather, it is one of the basic needs of your life. It is as important as the air you breathe. Happiness is all that you need to lead a good life.