All our lives, we are told to follow a specific manual to achieve happiness. We are taught that getting through certain stages is how we can reach this state.
When we are kids, we feel that graduating from school will make us happy. When we are in college, we feel like getting a job will make us happy. When that is done, we feel like getting married, having kids, or having a higher salary will make us happy.
This cycle goes on and on and only stops the day we die.
The Never-Ending Cycle
This perpetual cycle only aggravates the feeling that despite everything you’ve done with the sole purpose of achieving happiness in your life, you somehow still feel like it’s something yet to come.
After a while, this way of thinking almost becomes instinctive, and we become used to thinking that everything we are doing now will be worth it in the end.
This kind of thought process makes everyone believe that happiness is a destination or a medal you get after running a race, and it completely ignores the fact that joy can be experienced while running the race.
We put so much pressure on ourselves to reach a specific place or attain something because we are conditioned to believe that that’s the only way we can achieve happiness but who’s to guarantee that tomorrow will bring a better life than the one we have today.
In the process of chasing happiness, we tend to forget how to live and enjoy our journey.
Contrary to what many say, happiness can be experienced in the present, in the moment of whatever we are doing by being grateful for the things we have achieved so far, rather than complaining about the things that could not happen.
People who consistently choose to enjoy the process benefit from achieving their goals and appreciate how they got there.
Little moments that matter
We constantly create unrealistic expectations and put happiness on such a high pedestal that we miss the small moments staring us right in the face. Happiness does not always have to be the out-of-the-world moments.
It could also be little ones in our everyday lives like-
- Turning the pages of the books you’ve read over the years while cleaning your not-so-mini library.
- Riding your scooty on your way back from work with the wind in your hair.
- Eating a plate of Chole Bhature with a glass of lassi on the side.
- Watching Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham for the millionth time on T.V.
- Sitting on the beach and watching the sunset with your favourite mixtape playing in the background.
- Meeting your friends after a long week, making reels, momos and gossiping about ‘aas pados ki auntiyan’.
- Drinking the adrak vaali chai that your mum makes.
- The evening walks with your father.
- Snuggling with your baby brother(who is no longer a baby anymore) binge-watching horror movies together.
- Alternatively, even watching your grandparents devour your deformed cupcakes like it is the tastiest thing in the world.
In the end, happiness is not something you need to go out and search for. It can be found in everyday activities and chores if only we change the lens through we view our life.
