By Jernavis Draughn
I have learned through my trials and tribulations that being in a state of happiness is a CHOICE. How would you define happiness and what does happiness mean to you?
The dictionary defines the term happy as, “a feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.” Our society is fixated on quick fixes that lead to overnight success, therefore, we become obsessed with pleasure, and not happiness. Pleasure is a short term feeling while living in a state of happiness is accepting what we are because our life is meaningful.
One of the best books I have ever read on this topic is “Happier”, by Tal Ben Shahar which teaches us to learn the secrets to daily joy and lasting fulfillment. In his book he states, “Happy people live secure in the knowledge that the activities that bring them enjoyment in the present will also lead to a filling future.” He therefore defines happiness as the overall experience of pleasure and meaning.
This definition resonates with me on many levels. I have learned that happiness leads to more success, and that emotions causes motions. Your emotions always provide the motive behind every action. And your performance in anything you do is predicated on where you live emotionally. Experiencing positive emotions is necessary but not sufficient for happiness.
The goal is to create a meaningful life, which connects to having a sense of purpose for your life. There is a great quote that says, “We do not always get what we want in life, but we always get what we CHOOSE.” WE choose our purpose. For example, anyone who finds meaning and pleasure in his work, lives a more purposeful life. It is very important to clarify your purpose. As Robert Byrne says, “The purpose life is a life of purpose.
Here are five questions that helped me discover what truly provides happiness in my life. Take a few minutes to answer these questions below:
- How would you define happiness?
- What does happiness mean to you?
- The 5 things that make e HAPPY are?
- Why are you GRATEFUL for these 5 things in your life?
- What are your HAPPINESS boosters?
Quote of The Day: “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human exstence!”-Aristotle