In this day and age quite a number of people go by marketing ideas: “The most wonderful holiday; adventure; more money equals more happiness; me first.” Many also for most of their lives are more or less unhappy or feel a strange urge or yearning for ‘the real thing’.
There are numerous methods and substances around people revert to as well in order to gain a feeling of fulfillment. Of self-respect/self-esteem. While inside a sometimes half-conscious nagging little voice either asks constantly about their shortcomings. Or about the missing something in their lives that would finally get them to that happy ‘ending’.
They tend to forget that what others talk about in so many words, often boasting (even if in a gentle manner not quite discernible right at first), is not really true. Even if actions actually happened – which also can be doubtful with those ‘building their image’ all day long – their effects usually do not come up to the story told.
Sailors were said to be the ones having invented the art of ‘telling tall tales’. Which puts it in a nutshell, that principle…
In due course also, values and yardsticks for the individual behaviour are not reflected that much anymore: “They all do it… Why not me too?”
Additionally the ideas of patriarchy and its pitfalls as well as changing views on womanhood make it challenging to know your way: Some actually state it just as the old saying goes: “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander…” Equality in terms of “if men can do it, women can too.”
These things are crucial about all of this:
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- Something does not become right, just because many people do it, too. Or because no one will realize it…
- Happiness is not in applause of the many, the crowd. The audience. – Happiness is inside.
- More money may make you feel safer. But only if you will let it. It won’t make you happier. Especially not if self-esteem is missing. ‘Missing in action’…
Eastern systems of living and health start teaching us (again) what it is that makes humans happier:
Self-awareness that will be the beginning of a new self-esteem. With it comes the realization that looking out for yourself in a healthy manner will also enable you to find new ways of reaching out; connecting. With people of like mind. With real conversations. With the ability to understand that happiness sometimes is to accept our unwanted emotions such as sorrow or worry as part of the whole:
Being part of a community. With many people around who wish us and the whole well – too.
Happiness is in the small things.