No, I am not going to write about the movie (though that is an outstanding movie). I am going to talk about the general pursuit of happiness – mine, yours and ours.
Coca Cola describes happiness as “anything that can bring a smile to someone’s face”. To me, happiness is “a mental or emotional state which lets you be at ease with yourself and the world and feel good about living”.
Happiness is one of the most basic needs for our survival. Without it, everything looks bleak, living loses its charm, and we, gradually, inch forward towards depression…
What brings you happiness may be quite different from what brings happiness to me or to any other person. Each and every one of us has our own definition of happiness. We all want happiness. That dream job of yours? What do you think you will gain from that? Money? Yes; Status? Yes; But underlying it all is the quest for happiness, our Pursuit of Happiness..
We all think that attaining some arbitrary goal will make us happy. But nothing can be further from the truth. If you are pinning your happiness to attainment of a future goal, you are merely wasting what precious time you have upon this earth. If some past occurrence is hindering your path to happiness, it might be so because you are living in the past and creating of your own suffering or pain. What has happened, has already happened. It has already taken place, and unless time travel is made possible, you won’t be able to change it; so no use losing your sleep or point crying over that. Instead, get up, shake yourself, accept the fact that it is done and over, and get on with your life. Everyone has expectations from themselves and their lives. Maybe you are not where you wanted to be, and that’s okay. Do not be too hard on yourself. Instead, accept yourself as you are, boils, warts, everything. Learn to enjoy and live in the present. Focus on what you have and value the life you have. Work on making it better, but with a smile on your face, and not a scowl.
Yes, you do not need to smile and be happy all the time. While it’s okay to feel low from time to time, it’s not okay to be sad on purpose. Stop counting the problems you have in your life; everyone has problems. Instead, count your blessings and focus on your happiness.
Some would argue that happiness is not a choice. I disagree. Unless you are clinically depressed, you do have a choice. Even then there’s a choice. I am a firm believer of “if there’s a will, there’s a way”. You just have to want it. Happiness comes from within. Stop blaming others or your circumstances. They can merely present some challenge, and wouldn’t life be boring and dull without any challenge whatsoever? Overcome those hurdles and find your inner-peace. Within it lies your happiness.
Have you found your happiness? Or are you still chasing after your lost smile? Are you one of the happy souls? Or do you feel trapped in this morose world? In my next articles, I will be covering more on this topic. So stay tuned in, and in the meantime, I urge you to reflect upon your life, and count your blessings and smile.
Stay Zingy!
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March 22, 2016 at 23:53
Very inspiring post! Thank you!
“Some would argue that happiness is not a choice”. I’m with you. Happiness is totally a choice. I can speak from experience. I used to be very negative, a champion at complaining and crying about all the bad things going on in my life. I also battled depression at times in my life. Until I discovered the power of yoga, meditation, setting intentions for my days, and living by them. Now I do my best to look at the positive in situations and in my life, and let me tell you, I feel so much more content! It’s all in how you look at things, like the glass half full or half empty. I still catch myself becoming negative and discouraged every now and then, but if you practice positive thinking long enough, it becomes a lot easier getting back on track, when depressive thoughts pull you down.
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March 27, 2016 at 21:09
I am glad to learn that you fought and overcame your depression. Way to go, girl! You are right about seeking positive influences in your life. It’s not an easy thing, and takes great commitment and willpower. But it’s possible. I hope more people would see it that way instead of giving up on their lives.
(For some weird reason, WP decided to spam your comment. I am glad I checked, else i would have lost this beautiful comment forever.)
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March 28, 2016 at 19:17
Spam? Strange!
Thanks for the nice comment to my comment 😊 Looking forward to your future posts!
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March 28, 2016 at 19:27
I know! It’s happened to me before. I have found perfectly good comments lying in my spam folder. So I have now made it a point to check my spam from time to time.
Have a nice day!
Stay Zingy! 😉
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March 5, 2016 at 06:40
Great insights Ananya 🙂 I agree, you cannot be dependent on others to give you happiness- it has to be up to you. The past few years I have done what I thought was expected of me, and never listened to my instincts, and was baffled as to why I wasn’t happy. Now, I am owning more of my choices and doing what I truly want, and on the road to happiness hopefully 🙂
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March 10, 2016 at 21:41
Thanks, Madhurima! It’s great that you have come to realise that you cannot depend on others for your happiness and have started taking hold of your life! A big cheers to you, girl! We have got just this one, so why not enjoy it?
And good luck on your journey! Stay true, and stay zingy!
p.s.: Sorry for taking a while to get back to you. I have got a horrible attention span. I suspect I might be suffering from ADD.
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December 21, 2015 at 12:26
Nice post on the pursuit of happiness..something motivating 🙂
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December 27, 2015 at 21:18
Thank you so much for stopping by and giving your feedback. 🙂
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October 3, 2015 at 03:28
Great post Ananya! Thank you for remembering us to not dwell on the past 😉
Always counting my blessings 🙂
Turtle Hugs
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December 27, 2015 at 21:34
Thank you so much for the feedback, Turtle. 🙂
Turtle love and hugs. 🙂
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October 2, 2015 at 09:40
Thank you, Ananya. This post inspired, reassures, empowers and calms. Looking forward to reading more of your work! 😊
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October 2, 2015 at 22:06
Thank you so much for the encouragement and feedback.
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October 2, 2015 at 06:38
What an incredibly inspiring post!! Appreciate reading such positivity and truth..well done!
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October 2, 2015 at 22:04
Glad that it has been received positively. 🙂 Thanks for the feedback.
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October 2, 2015 at 01:18
A great post. It got me rethinking about my priorities. Yes, happiness lies within. It is your perception of the circumstances or experiences that is responsible for the way you percieve or experience life and emotions.
I loved the quotes in between. Thanks for the amazing post!
Have a great day!
Arcane owl
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October 2, 2015 at 22:03
I am glad that the post resonated with you. Thanks for the amazing feedback!
A very good day to you too. Be Happy and Stay Zingy! 😉
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October 1, 2015 at 22:39
Absolutely true! Love the Maryann Williamson quote about not living in the past. I have the tendency to do that and it serves absolutely no purpose! You can only go forward and try to enjoy the ride!
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October 1, 2015 at 22:53
I am sure we all fall prey to that (living in the past) from time to time. Maybe because that’s familiar territory. And that’s okay as long as we remember snap out of it and live and enjoy the present!
Thanks for the feedback. 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:51
It might have gone to your spams. Thanks 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:47
Did you get my comment Ananya?
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October 1, 2015 at 21:28
I agree Ananya, happiness is a choice. There is no use on dwelling in the past, rather make our past a propeller to achieve what will make us happy. Happiness is contentment and seeing the blessings we have now. 🙂 Great post! Keep up the good work! 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:32
“Use the past a propeller!” Very well said.
Thanks for the feedback and the encouraging words, Shine! Glad you liked it. 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:40
I always love your post Ananya although I am not able to read regularly. You give positive feeling, inspiration and encouragement which is really great. 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:28
Wow!!
Guruji! Where are your feet? Dandavat!! 😛
But seriously it’s such an inspiring post about something most fundamental to our existence. It makes us think. It was worth the wait. Thanks for writing it Guruji!
I have shared it on social media so others can benefit too.
I wish you very best!
Love and light ❤
Anand 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 22:43
WP did send it to my spam folder. I wonder why. (because it couldn’t understand 2 words?)
Oh no, no, no Anand, you are my Guruji. 😉 You have been speaking on such matters since like a quite a while back. 😉 I wish I could post at least half as often as you do!
And thank you for the encouragement. It means a lot.
Love and light back at ya! ❤
Stay Zingy! 😉
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October 1, 2015 at 22:53
Hehehe…yes two words made it to spams twice. I understood it late. thanks. I am waiting for horoscope report yet 😛
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October 1, 2015 at 21:20
Great post..! I agree with you.. Happiness is definitely a choice. You can be happy only if you choose to be! Loved the quotes in between the post!!
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October 1, 2015 at 21:27
Thanks for the feedback, Deeksha. Stay happy and enjoy life!:)
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October 1, 2015 at 21:08
A lovely post that was well worth the wait! To answer your question, I ran behind something that I thought would bring me hapiness for 10 years…not only did that journey not give me happiness or joy, it was a waste of time, once I realised the true happiness comes from within and that you can actually turn to the little simple things in life to be truly happy, my life changed drastically!
So I resonate with your post on that topic!
Thanks for a lovely post that brought a smile to my day! 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:26
I can relate. Until an eventful journey 3 years ago (which totally altered my thinking and my approach to life), I was pretty much a miserable dolt.
I am glad to learn that you have found your way to happiness, and that you enjoyed this post. Thank you for the feedback, Rashmi!
Wishing lots of happiness to you and your son. 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:02
Great post! It can also be argued that we’re constantly pursuing happiness because we can never be content with what we have. I guess we have to learn to find a balance between both 🙂
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October 1, 2015 at 21:17
Well said. I totally agree with you. Happiness starts from within.I guess in chasing after more happiness, we forget what we already have and end up being miserable and not living to the fullest.
Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!
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