In pursuit of happiness

I am not talking about the Will Smith movie (The pursuit of Happyness)

A beggar in the street feels much happier than a person going around in a car. For the beggar, if he gets his food for that day, he is 'satisfied'. He does not bother about tomorrow. He is contented with what he could get today. He is damn happy. On the other hand, the person in the car would be worrying about the finance he has to arrange to pass his cheque. Once he arranges the funds, he starts worrying about the cheque that would be presented the next day, and the next.... It is a never-ending process. He can never be happy, in his life. So, who is luckier? I leave it to your guess. I am not suggesting that one has to be a beggar to be happy. I am comparing the 'state of mind' of both the beggar and the other man.

Happiness is not about getting all you want, it is about enjoying all you have. Every human being's sole aim in life is to live a happy life. All of us relentlessly work towards that goal. One has to make the most of one's life. There should be no place for hatred, greed, jealousy in our lives. It should be filled with contentedness, satisfaction, compassion which will make us lead a happy life.

A very rich man compares with another rich man and he constantly strives to go one step above the other man. In the process, he loses his 'contentedness' and 'greed' takes over. This happens among the globally rich guys also. How could they ever be happy? When one has enough money, the money protects him; and when he has more than what is necessary, he has to guard the money (a rough translation of a song). He will be always under tension in guarding his money, losing the precious happiness.

Rick Warren (American, a pastor and author of Christian books) says, "But happiness is not the goal in life, happiness is a by-product of living out your purpose". I beg to differ with this view. After all, everyone has got the right to have his own views about what is right and what is wrong. Yes, everybody has a purpose in life but that should not deter us from being happy. Being happy should be given the top most priority over achieving our purpose. What can you do, if achieving your purpose in life does not make you happy?

Folks are usually about as happy, as they make their minds up to be - Abraham Lincoln. So, what you make out of your actions in life makes you happy. It is in the mindset. It does not come from outside; it is well within us.

Anybody can help the people who are genuinely in need, may it be monetary or otherwise. We need not be 'rich' to help others. What we really need is a 'rich mind', which is inclined to help those in need. Once we give any help, however small it may be, we will feel a 'happiness' which cannot be explained in words. A sense of 'fulfillment' and 'satisfaction' would accompany. Then we will do it for the rest of our lives. This is the real meaning of life.....

Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know - Earnest Hemingway. It is true. The intelligent people by nature, have that mindset, that they are a cut above the rest. They always want to prove themselves to be different from others and they work towards that. While going in that direction, they are restless and forget the aim of life (that of being happy).

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony - Mahatma Gandhi. If there is no conflict among what you think, what you say and what you do, then there is complete peace in your mind. You are satisfied with what you do. That makes you happy. So, always act according to what you say and say what you think. Be true to yourself.

No medicine cures what happiness cannot - Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Happy people get cured sooner than the others. There is a saying that 'if you laugh out load, your illness will fly off'. It has been scientifically proved as well.

Never make life complicated. Live a simple life; satisfied life. No amount of money, your fame, position, power can give you happiness. And never compare yourself with another person (higher than you) and get disheartened. If you are able to sleep in the night within 10 minutes of going to bed, you are the happiest person in the world. Life is not worth it otherwise...