I Believe in HappinessI believe in happiness. I believe that the purpose of life is to amplify the goodness in us and around us and we do that when we live a happy life. When we all take care of our own needs, appreciate our own gifts and good fortune, and appreciate the good in others, the world becomes a better place for everyone. The Dalai Lama says that the purpose of life is to be happy. Scientific research shows that when we are happy, we embody the best of being human; we create things and do things that expand the good in the universe rather than take away from it. Whether you believe in evolution or intelligent design, all life seems to be driven to create more life- from sea slugs to salient beings like us. Some scientists now believe that Darwin didn’t quite get it right when he formed his theory of evolution. It is not survival of the fittest, but survival of the fit. The fit adapt to make room for other life- both in their own species and in others. Studies on the Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s original evolution laboratory, show there are more species now than in Darwin’s day, not less as survival of the fittest would predict. Science shows that happy people are more likely to reproduce. Happy people pass on genes and habits that make more happy people and they are more likely to act in a way that supports others both human, plant and animal- creating more life. Therefore, I believe in happiness. So I agree with the Dalai Lama, the purpose of life is to be happy, the kind of lasting, healthy happiness that spreads to others and advances all forms of good in the world.This kind of happiness takes energy and purposeful action. Life wears on all of us. Sometimes it comes in the form of tragedy and sometimes it is just the constant barrage of little injustices and annoyances that get to us. And in the end, it is our ability to reach deep inside to our core, our human spirit, and pull out something good, some reason to be good and continue the circle of life that determines the quality of our experience and the quality of the gifts we leave behind for others. When I need to regain my enthusiasm and joi do vie, I do three things. First, I HALT- an acronym for hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Any of these things can block my ability to feel happiness outside of my circumstances. I have often been amazed what a good 8 to 10 hours of sleep a couple nights in a row can do for my outlook on life. Second, I start on a good things list. I find that focusing on the good things in my life- the things I appreciate and am grateful for- has magical powers for lifting my mood. When I do this over a period of time, I find my external circumstances and relationships with others start to change for the better. Finally, I re-energize myself by doing things I really enjoy that absorb my attention. I love stories, so novels , movies, and talking to others about what happens to them and their stories always cheers me up. I also like dancing, singing and making things. Everyone has their own activities that absorb their full attention and make them happy. I don’t know what the purpose of life in general is, nor do I know the purpose of any one individual’s life, but I believe in happiness. I want to believe that we are all put on this earth for a reason, but I’m not sure if we are put here for a reason, or if we just feel better believing that so we all search until we find one that makes sense to us. What I do know is that when I take care of myself, pay attention to the good stuff and express gratitude for it, and routinely do things that give me joy- I feel better, I get more done, I have more, I give more away, and I find more happy people around me. To me, that is the essence of a happy life and why I believe in happiness.
|
