I’ve written a few posts on this blog on the topic of happiness, since as we all know, ‘money can’t buy me love’ – or happiness for that matter. Financial freedom will free me to have time, and I still believe it to be the first step to focus on the intentional life that I want. But if I’m not in the right place mentally, its useless to have financial freedom. I keep searching for ways to attain what I’ve been calling sustainable happiness.
Yesterday, my husband, quite nicely mentioned to me that one thing I might have a hard time doing is living in the moment. This is why I married him, because he is all to good at this. And it is a quality that I want more of in my life, but struggle finding because of my personality type and ingrained habits.
Today I happened upon and took a short quiz on Oprah’s site, the happiness test, and after answering just a few short questions in this quiz, the insight that I received as my result was amazing to me. To the point where I printed it out in large text and put it on my wall. I reached the category right under the you are always happy category. Here’s what my result said:
You need to recognize the difference between chasing after happiness and choosing happiness.
Happiness is not outside you; it’s not a destination; and it’s not about “getting there.”
When you stop chasing happiness, you allow yourself to be more present, more available and more open.
This way you find happiness wherever you are.
The old saying “Life is journey, not a destination” has a similar meaning. Its not about being happy. Because if I reached the elusive happiness consistently, I wouldn’t be growing or changing, and I would become bored eventually anyway.
The overall concept that I am hearing applied to my life is this:
I need to LET GO of my need to control everything and this will allow me to be able to enjoy the moment.
I need to have faith that tomorrow will bring joy and sorrow alike, but that I will have the strength and courage to not only survive, but also come out a little bit smarter, and happier, than I was before.
I’ve realized, that’s all that I can really ask for.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I agree. Happiness comes from within and your own way of looking at your own world.
Wonderfully stated, thank you. The trick for me, is to remember this at the more difficult times. Remembering to express gratitude out loud or write it down can really help.
I wrote an earlier post. Due to my ignorance…I made a basic assumption that you were male. Primarily, when I attend wealth seminars, or different financial training programs, I never see women. I rarely see African Americans. I apologize for an earlier post when I assumed you were male!