Celebrate happiness, not sadness

Happiness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. Happiness signifies emotional states which include positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. Happiness is correlated with willingness.

‘‘Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence’’ - Aristotle.

According to the great Greek philosopher Aristotle, happiness depends on ourselves, more than anybody else. He propagated happiness as a central purpose of human life and a goal in itself.                   

On the other hand, sadness is associated with feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, grief, helplessness, disappointment and sorrow.

Said the great poet Kahlil Gibran ‘‘Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.’’

Happiness is a correlative term with willingness. Have we ever thought about why sadness falls upon us with so much heavy load?

Sadness invites depression to our heart and mind. The reason for being depressed is that our will to be happy is dying day by day. Whether we should find the reason for happiness or should create a sorrowful atmosphere around us remembering the memories of past sadness – this is the most common and serious dilemma among the young generation. Because our previous generations used to believe happiness comes from inside but this generation believes in showing off. That means without being happy from inside of the soul they remain busy  showing off to the outsiders that they are happy which creates confusion, restlessness, anxiety and depression.

Every human being must have some pathetic incidents from the past that haunts them. However, the memories of that horrible past don’t have the right to spoil the sweet happiness of the present day. One may lose some valuable things or person, lose money, property, jobs or even get betrayed by a dear one but it would be stupidity to think that life is over. Some memories that increase pain may come again and again in the mind which are associated with some specific foods, places, movies, novels or songs but if we can form the psychological strength of overlooking or ignoring those irritating memories, we can fully enjoy the present by gathering new memories for making a better future.

Trying to find only materialistic happiness is also the cause of sadness. A lot of money, property, cars, big apartments and luxurious life can make you smile for a certain period. It’s called satisfaction, not happiness. Happiness is a feeling of permanent satisfaction which makes your inner soul happy rather making just your lips smile. Things that make you happy for a small time, must not be misdiagnosed as happiness.

Lack of stability is another reason for sadness. Because by concentrating on pleasing the surrounding elements more than pleasing our own souls; both our heart and mind remain unstable. This restlessness always chases after the flexibility of a
healthy mind.

To escape from depression and sadness, a huge number of people take resort to narcotic substances to divert their minds from past losses and failures. This is the most dangerous threat to the young generation because it may take you away from sadness for a certain period but it becomes a source of permanent sadness to your family and dear ones who genuinely love you unconditionally.  Those who consume drugs try to make it valid with logical explanations and to many of them it may appear as a means of relaxation but just for having a short-term relaxation, it will be sin to put your life at long term destruction. The drug gives temporary relief to the addicted person but he gradually heads towards death. In some individuals, the onset of drug use can be from untreated psychiatric issues including anxiety and depression.  There are literally hundreds of drugs currently available. All seemingly have the same effect on the user and no matter how potent or illicit, they affect the body and mind negatively. In this short period of life, it is necessary to think of every moment, each and every day as a blessing. It’s high time for the youths to wake up by spreading creativity, confidence and letting the world know of your existence.

According to American psychologist Donna Rockwell after much scientific discussion and review, researchers have come to define happiness as the ability to sustain an overall sense of well being over time. However, the capacity to generate and maintain well-being while coping with daily challenges requires a certain amount of emotional flexibility.

Sadness also results from being influenced easily or being manipulated by others. Because of restlessness and confusion, this generation always suffers from indecision and they never listen to their heart and become the puppet of multiple words of multiple persons.

When happiness knocks at the door, this generation open it with a smile; tell the sad incidents to happiness and when happiness approaches to offer them permanent secret of being happy for the lifetime, they reject it because being with happiness, this generation feels suffocation and don’t allow to come happiness inside the door because they want to celebrate sadness by remembering those sad memories again and again. This psychological attitude should be changed because if you welcome happiness then it may pull others to the world of happiness from sadness.

‘‘Sadness gives depth. Happiness gives height. Sadness gives roots. Happiness gives branches. Happiness is like a tree going into the sky, and sadness is like the roots going down into the womb of earth. Both are needed, and the higher a tree goes, the deeper it goes simultaneously. The bigger the tree, the bigger will be its roots. In fact, it is always in proportion. That’s its balance.’’ – Osho.

According to the Philosopher, John Steinbeck- “A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ. ‘It’s high time transforming the sad soul into a happy one. So, let the germs of soul be vanished away, remove sadness, stay positive, be happy and spread happiness.

Every morning starts with a new beginning so before starting to search for happiness or accept the happiness that waits at your door steps, don’t end the starting journey of life with sadness.    

Let us end with the great filmmaker Woody Allen’s quote “Everyone’s already happy, only they don’t know it.”

The writer is a Reporter at The Business Post