So the purpose of our life is to create our own happiness. At least according to Dalai Lama.
I recently read an article online that divided happiness into two types: stimulation and fulfillment.
Stimulation is the happiness we experience in momentary moments such as eating a slice of a darn good pizza, socializing with close friends, dancing to your favorite song, etc. Once the stimulus goes away, the happiness eventually fades as well.
The other type of happiness is fulfillment. This is associated with feelings of achievement and selflessness. We tend to feel this type of happiness when the end result of our actions is achieving something great. Fulfillment is harder to gain, but it is more self-sustaining.
We should be able to experience both types of happiness but in the long run, we may have to choose one over the other; and many of us tend to make choices that leave us feeling empty.
Many of us live such busy lives with only a fraction of time to spare outside of work and in these moments, we choose the easy type of happiness. After a long day of work, we decide to rest in bed with Netflix by our side or meet a few friends for drinks. Very quickly, we are able to find a state of bliss. Yet as the days and months go by, we find ourself asking "What the hell are you doing with your life?" Joe Elvin explains that this stems from a lack of fulfillment. Gaining a sense of fulfillment requires us to face a lot of pain, willpower, and faith. However, living in a generation where we can gain access to anything instantaneously, we give in to the idea of instant gratification too often.
Fulfillment doesn't come easy, and in the end, all the effort may not even be worth it. Many people who live a fulfilling life style, are rarely recognized or rewarded yet, they still work painstakingly hard. These people have a reason for being alive, they are contributors to a better world and see that there is more to life than just satisfying themselves.
It was a really thought-provoking article and a topic that's been on my mind lately. Going off on this happiness theme, I also recently watched a film titled "Hector and the Search for Happiness." This novel turned film was comedic and inspiring. Despite the horrible reviews it's received, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and was one of those movies that made me tear up in the happy parts.
Note to self & others: Don't let your often mundane reality lead you to believe that achieving fulfillment is an impossible feat. Open your eyes and overcome the odds!
