What is Happiness?
Find the path to YOUR never-ending happiness
"What kind of question?" you may be thinking now, and tell yourself that the answer is simple.
"Happiness is when I'm happy!" you're sure.
But is that the case?
When are you happy?
Have you ever considered it and clarified what happiness is for you? It's excellent if your answer is "yes," and it is. However, I have learned in my life that many people answer "yes" and yet are still - often constantly - searching.
I have been asking myself this question repeatedly for many years, and it has taken me many answers to reach my current answer. Most people don't come up with this answer straight away. Even the countless articles on the internet, happiness research, and psychology don't give you the answer. People philosophize about the difference between happiness and contentment; a metaphysical question is scientized. But the core solution is much simpler.
I want to share only some of my misguided paths here because this article would be far too long otherwise. But I would like to share a few with you.
When I was ten, I got my first bike for my birthday. That was perfect happiness. I was so happy that I wanted to take the bike to bed with me. Yet, much quicker than I would have liked, the bike was just my bike, an excellent means of transportation that gave me freedom. Significant, but after a short time, the feeling of happiness was gone, and everyday life returned. I always felt the same about all gifts; the fascination often wears off quickly. Later, the first motorcycle, car, and house were all great for a limited time.
When I was a bit older, I longed for the end of school and thought that real life would begin after that, and I would be thrilled. Yes, it was great not to go to school anymore, but I soon realized that happiness must be something else.
I thought something similar in my first relationship, my first marriage. And I was always happy for a while before the mildew of habit overgrew the happiness. Relationships can make you happy, but they can also make you unhappy. Relationship = Happiness is an equation with many unknowns that often don't work out.
I was happy when my children were born, and I am still excited that they exist. And I was glad to have had two more great children through my second marriage. Children are closer to happiness than many other things. But if you define your happiness as children, you risk never being or becoming truly happy.
I also thought professional success made me happy for a long time. But over time, I realized that success is an insidious drug; you need more over time to be happy and satisfied.
I have lived and experienced intensively and implemented what came into my head without much thought, mostly from my gut. I wanted to leave Germany and go to America, so I played for the green card and won it. That was my greatest happiness when I found out, and I'm still happy about it today, but it wasn't the ultimate feeling of happiness.
Because winning the green card triggered my next wish - I wanted to become an American. I also became faster than most others before me, and I was blissfully happy on the day of the naturalization ceremony, which I still am today. But that day and the time that followed triggered something else in me: I understood what true happiness is!
There is no one way to happiness. Happiness is the way.
Buddha
I understood this on the day of my naturalization and in the following weeks.
Happiness doesn't come to you or me from anywhere.
Happiness is not waiting for me or you anywhere.
Our happiness doesn't lie in the other people around us.
You can't buy happiness.
Happiness is not the things I or you do or don't do.
Our Happiness does not lie in life circumstances.
Happiness is not a hope, a right, or a given.
The gift of happiness is much easier and yet more difficult!
Happiness is a decision.
Our happiness is an awareness.
Happiness is an attitude.
I have decided never to let go of the happiness I felt and experienced on the day of my naturalization. I have decided always to be happy and never leave the path of happiness again.
Happiness is within me, I am happiness!
This is a philosophy of life that will brighten your day. It makes your life easier and lowers your expectations of life. The joy in the little things can often be much greater than in the big things. No, when you are happy, it is actually always much greater.
Being happy makes you deeply grateful. Happiness without gratitude usually doesn't last, whereas gratitude eventually brings happiness. Complicated? Never mind; I'll write about gratitude another time.
Have you already made this decision? Or are you ready to allow and make this decision?
I wish you every success in your pursuit of happiness.
On this journey, you will understand the mantra of LIVE WITHOUT LIMITS:
The best is yet to come!
This podcast can teach you a lot about the wisdom to become happy:
