I've seen plenty of motivational pictures and posters during my life. In addition to this, I've seen plenty of comics and such which are supposed to be filled with wisdom and knowledge about good life.
Mostly, I've laughed them off. Motivational posters and their shallow ideas, life wisdom comics and how pointless their tips seem. "This is an easy topic and everyone knows this"
One of my favorites is one, in which a man is shown to always be aiming for something when waiting for happiness.
"I'll be happy when I finish studies, I'll be happy when I get a job, I'll be happy when I get a new apartment, I'll be happy when I get a promotion..."
The wisdom in the end was: Happiness is the journey, not the destination.
I enjoyed the drawing style in the one I saw years ago, but didn't mind it otherwise. Of course we are trying to enjoy the journey through life. Who would put their happiness to wait for certain goals, which they might reach later?
However now as an adult, I've noticed I'm doing this and I've been doing this. Waiting for something else to happen so I can be happier. When I'm not happier than before, I feel disappointed. Like I've been lied to.
Did I forget to enjoy the journey so far, or did I just have high expectations what I would feel like when I achieve something?
As a Finnish person, I've always been a fan of the Moomins. One of the characters, Hemulen, is a stamp collector in the beginning. However when he finally manages to get the perfect stamp collection, he feels unhappy. He has nothing more to reach in life. He has accomplished all he ever wanted.
He found his happiness by starting to collect plants instead of stamps.
Could this be another way to happiness? Instead of changing our view of happiness too radically, we'll just always find something else to strive for. Every time we reach a goal and might notice how empty our lives are, we would just always change the targets.
I assume this could work, but I've seen people do this and they have sometimes gone far to crazy with their attempts of going further and further to find happiness they are looking for. Have you seen one of the women always wanting a bigger cup size to be happy about herself?
The scary thing, I assume that to find longer lasting happiness and fulfillment we would need to look deep down into ourselves. And I can see that's scary, so it's no wonder people tend to choose other ways to look for happiness.
All images from Pixabay, no image of Hemulen included because Moomins are not characters free to use
Hi @apsu!
You make some good points on realizing that happiness isn't some far away goal, but exists in the here and now. Moomins like the fluffly white cloud animals??? We watched that show growing up in Honolulu!
It really is trying to embrace the moment, all the while striving towards your goals, and to be more. I am a firm believer when it comes to never being able to reach perfection, so I could always improve.
Sometimes I feel empty, but that might be because I'm hungry :P
Love,
@shello
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Hello @shello :)
Well I would happiness would be here all the time around, or even as a goal to be reached! At least in the moments the happiness feels lost. And YES. Moomins do look a bit like clouds, at least depending on the artist. They have made plenty of different series and movies on the Moomins (and there are comics and books too!) and they are only to be loved.
I wish I could fill the momentary empty feelings with food. Maybe I should try that one ;)
Thank you for commenting @shello :)
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Heya @apsu,
sorry for the super late reply!! I too feel like we can't see the happiness in the present as it serves as a memory to reflect on. Often times we miss it, and realize that this is what is meant by it "being more about the journey!"
I have fleeting memories of the show, but I remembered that the moomins lived in the country side, and it was bright out with good whether, and many happy and moving stories. My attention was geared more towards the Sailor Moon series xDD but good memories nonetheless. Happiness is a feeling and an attitude!~
<3 shello
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You should try to download some Moomins if you can :D They are great even as an adult! Really.
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No amount of collection will ever be enough yet this is what we are taught, consume, consume, consume. It comes in many forms, not just material.
Happiness is an emotion like any other, it is transitory. In my view, the work performed along the journey is what is valuable. Sometimes it will bring joy, sometimes heartache.
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You're right, we consume in many forms and not just material. I'm happy that there are other ways of consuming and not only the material way, but still.. I don't want our happiness to be so depending on consuming.
If we find ourselves in a situation, when we have no goal to strive for, can we find anything to work with if we have no goals?
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For me, I do not see an end to work. The world is in such a mess that there is always something to work on, something to attempt.
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"Happiness is a state of mind"- one of the oldest quotes I can remember. I think what you are talking about are life goals/dreams, after achieving a desired goal in life we divert our efforts towards a new one and this process continues. And I don't think that's a bad thing but waiting to be happy or not enjoying the pleasures of life along this journey can be a mistake. Although some sacrifices have to be made as per what your dreams are, but achieving your ultimate goal in life or living the dream can also bring immense satisfaction to our soul thus leading to a happy and better life for ourselves and those around us.
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Happiness is a state of mind. It would be great if we would have a control over our minds, but I think we can't have one. It would be easy just to tell ourselves to be happy and then be happy.
Maybe it is that we're waiting for happiness to be something truly special in the end and then we sacrifice the real happiness while waiting something imaginary.
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We should take our time and try to define what happiness means to one, to oneself.
I can say I’m happy when I see children play inhibitedly and unturned by any mobile devices. I’m happy knowing that I live with much less (than the world of advertising dictates me) but instead hang with local people who enjoy life over drinks. Cheap beers, not expensive beers at a bistro.
I’m happy knowing I am prepared for the future, or at least aware of what may come and how to not become burdened by it. I’m happy, mostly, because I don’t let others define how I should experience my own happiness.
Does that mean I’m not hungry for (new) successes anymore? Heck no. Different things. Victory, and also achievement, is adrenaline. It’s a temporary, short-lived rush. Not happiness.
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Well you can be happy if you can find yourself things to be happy about and that you can define happiness to yourself. I wish I would also feel confident that I would be prepared for the future, as I can see that uncertainty of the future can drain the happiness from present for many people, like me.
It feels dumb, but it might remove the joy of the moment - if you are afraid that you might not be happy in the future (which is uncertain). I'm glad you seem to be handling life and happiness quite well.
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It wasn’t always like that. In fact, I’ve gone deeper, almost literally, down the other end of happiness. Yet, to have been there has massively helped me recalibrate my own happiness compass. My own, not that one imposed by society.
Does it mean I’ve said no to things I enjoyed before? Every.single.day. and I’m not talking alcohol or drugs or anything like that. No, instead it meant a chosen path of simplification, a generally simpler life. I don’t have less worries, but I have learned to value things differently.
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Oh man, I wish this wouldn't need to go as far as thinking things by myself instead of letting society decide for me. But maybe the thing ultimately is to look into ourselves and find whatever we find there and hopefully learn to appreciate things in life and be happy.
I have a respect for you for going through that. It might sound weird though, as this is what I think everyone should do - however we both know not all are going through to find their own happiness instead of living in the "assumed" happiness found in the cultural constructs we are living in.
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I was reading another post on happiness earlier tonight and commented I can't think of a time where I didn't feel happy after helping someone else.
The amount you chat and help people on Steemit, you must be pretty happy? If not, I think it's an important point to remember it's ok to let yourself be happy sometimes (sometimes the noise/weight of the world gets in the way, don't try to be happy..just be happy your able to help).
hehe well there's my 2 cents (votes) worth anyways
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Oh no, I'm not usually getting happiness from helping others. It's just a thing I do. I would feel great if honestly every time I would help someone I would get happier, or even happy. I assume my life would feel amazing then :D
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People talk about what they need, in my case the best motivation is a cup of coffee and a warm good morning.
That is all I need.
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Idk....think the point is not rly happines...but strive. I think it is in our nature, gene or spirit, whatever u want rly...to keep on pushing it. Maybe at the end it comes to as simple thing as an ego. Like trying harder/pushing further is programed in us. Think if u took the goal (in this case happines) away...we would keep on pushing forward.
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Well we can't push backwards either.
Ok, that was a bad joke :D But I can see what you say.
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Cool post! My newest friend!
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Try to write comments which are related to the post, only general compliments rarely seem as much thought would have been put on the comments :)
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