I’ve been thinking alot lately about why it seems humans are never able to attain happiness. I myself find myself always wanting more. Here are some random, sporatic thoughts on the subject.
Let’s go way back to when I was a kid. Little Zahra running around with no shoes, scrapes all over her legs, popsicle all over her face and worm guts all over her fingers. Things seemed so simple as a kid. Your mind is in its purest state. Your decisions are based on what you feel in your heart. Not corrupted by material goods or american idealism. Before reality television, social icons, iPads, selfies, love, lust, contour pallets, social media. As the years pass life seems to get complicated. You start to prioritize differently.
Now as an adult having been through a hell of alot of life, knowing the unimportance of material things and the importance of experiences, I still find myself unhappy often. Maybe I have reason to be, maybe the weight of failure weighs on me, always wondering what could have been.
But why is it we are incapable of being satisfied with our life? and no it’s not necessarily a bad thing.
You hope to get that dream job and when you do you start looking for a raise. Youd kill for someones attention and when you get it you look elsewhere, why is that? Humans are always in a state of change and what we often forget is to live in the present. It’s not about wanting more, but about being present in the moment were in, and the people we’ve become.
I mean, I think its admirable to set goals and always strive for better but the problem is not taking the time to appreciate what we do have in that moment. The important things in life. I truly think what it all comes down to is balance and state of mind. Oprah once said, “I got so focused on the difficulty of the climb that I lost sight of being grateful for simply having a mountain to climb.” I try to remember that.
What makes you happy? obviously lots of things but name off a few in your head. For me, being generous brings me contentment and fulfillment. Making other people happy whether someone I care about or just stranger in need, thats something that genuinely makes me happy and brings me joy. If I could help one soul a day I would go to sleep feeloing accomplished.
The reality is we spend too much time focused on what others have and what theyre doing. Comparing others lives to our own. Letting low self esteem and insecurities get the best of us. Is the secret just learning to be content with never being content? Being comfortable with discomfort?
Really something to think about.
