The Happiness Fallacy
By Lode Blomme
- 2 minutes read - 411 wordsPicture this: You finally land your dream job, you get a promotion, you win the lottery, or you find the love of your life. You feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and fulfillment. But, is that happiness sustainable?
The answer is no.
We all tend to think that if we achieve something, possess something, or acquire something, we’ll finally reach a state of happiness. But, the reality is that happiness is an inside job.
External circumstances can only provide temporary happiness. Let’s say you’re a chocolate lover and you’re having a bad day. You go to your favorite store and buy a big chocolate bar. You indulge in it, and it brings you momentary happiness. But, after a while, that happiness fades away, and you’re back to feeling low.
The same goes for other external circumstances. You might think that getting a high-paying job will make you happy, but once the novelty wears off, you might start feeling unfulfilled and bored. You might think that finding the love of your life will make you happy, but once the honeymoon phase is over, you might start experiencing problems and conflicts that can bring you down.
So, what’s the solution?
The solution is to focus on internal happiness. You need to cultivate happiness from within. Happiness is a state of mind, and you have the power to control your thoughts and emotions. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it.
One way to cultivate internal happiness is to practice gratitude. Be thankful for what you have in your life. Appreciate the people, experiences, and things that make you happy. This will shift your focus from what you lack to what you have, and you’ll start feeling more content and fulfilled.
Another way to cultivate internal happiness is to practice mindfulness. Be present in the moment and pay attention to your thoughts and emotions. Don’t judge them, just observe them. This will help you understand yourself better and help you deal with negative emotions in a healthier way.
The most common mistake for humanity is believing that external circumstances can make us happy. The truth is that happiness comes from within. Don’t get me wrong, external circumstances can bring us joy and happiness, but they’re not sustainable. So, focus on cultivating internal happiness, and you’ll find that you can be happy in any circumstance. And, who knows, maybe you’ll even become immune to the effects of that pesky external factor – the weather.