Finding Happiness: What the Pursuit is All About

What is happiness? How do we achieve it? People all over the world have struggled over these questions for centuries. The truth is, the answers have always been out there!

Every American has heard the phrase “the pursuit of happiness,” but not a lot of people understand what it really means. “Happiness” is not something you must strive for; instead, happiness is something you achieve via the pursuit of another goal. People don’t wake up some time in their lives and say, “I’m happy now.” Everyone must find his or her own unique path to happiness.

So How Do You Find Your Path?

First, picture yourself in a perfect world. Try not to think of the cliché fantasy of a sandy beach drinking a piña colada. Instead, try to think of what changes you would make to your current situation to make it ideal. Would you prefer a different job? Do you wish you had a better house? Is there a skill you always wished you had? Picture all these things coming true. If you like, you can write these things down and number them. This is your path to happiness.

Let’s pretend you always wanted to play the flute. First thing is first, go out and get yourself a flute at a local music store. Ask a friend who has one. Borrow one. Buy one on eBay. Whatever you need to do!

Next, find someone who can teach you how to play. Maybe there is someone you met who knows how to play. Ask that person for lessons or find out if he or she knows a good teacher. Look online for websites. Go to a bookstore and pick up a music book. Or just start teaching yourself.

At this point, you would probably be no better at playing the flute than you were before. However, I can guarantee that you will already be extremely happy with yourself. That is the idea.

Achievement Is Not Always Success

Actually achieving a goal is a very relative idea. How well do you have to know the flute before you can say you achieved? The point is not to focus on how good you want to become, but how good you already are. Seeing oneself progress at something brings with it one of the greatest feelings one can experience. In other words, even if you do not “achieve” your goal, you are still able to make yourself happy.