I've been thinking quite a bit lately about what happiness really means
and how you go about finding it. That's a pretty loaded question and
carries all sorts of weird dynamics into all sorts of depth. I believe
we're all in a constant pursuit of either happiness or misery and
seeking out whatever side you thrive from is an essential battle of
life.
The more I grow, the more I love, and the more I think about things.
Unfortunately this also opens the door for things I don't like seeping
into my life - the things I ignore, and the wrong things I have had the
misfortune of embracing. Anyone can put forth the illusion of being
anything they want and carry that silly mask wherever they go.
Likewise, we can all have friends and acquaintances which serve
specific, masked purposes that we keep around for our own benefit, but I
don't believe in that anymore. I've said it before in a similar
context lacking as much depth, but if we would all focus more on growing
with people instead of complying with or using them, we would all be
better off and entirely fulfilled.
I'm not talking about some floaty, off the wall, transcendental movement
that makes the world think you're the type who would be best suited for
running around in a field, naked, covered in dirt, and basking in the
beauty of nature before being eaten by a bear though. The truth is... I
look at most things from a realistic perspective and embrace the moment
I'm in rather than chasing hard in life to find or create a moment
because I'm looking for one. Sure, we all have these fits of clarity
from time to time when it seems like the sky has opened and we can take a
solid and pure breath of life into our lungs, but there is a difference
between chasing that down and paying attention to your surroundings enough to notice the incredible things you would otherwise miss
entirely. You know, when you're having a good conversation with someone
and their smile gives you that fractional second of goosebumps? You
can't fake that, nor can you force it. It's just there.
Going back to the two very distinct types of people I mentioned before
is a large part of that demographic. We don't have any real obligation
to be around people who only convey negativity or usability towards us,
but so many of us have a tendency to put up with just that. It has an
effect on us that causes more damage than we take into account. I'm not
talking about the highs and lows of life and the sporadic reactions
which sometimes come out pretty brash. I'm talking about the frequency
in which it happens and the ratio of your life it manages to consume.
Nobody can be happy all of the time, and some people flip through the
pages of their life and personal situations that cause them to fall off
for select periods of time, but if it seems like more than a seasonal
occurrence, that's a problem. On the other side - if you pay attention
to how much you complain, how much issue you take with the
imperfections of the world, how you view people in a certain light
without giving a benefit of the doubt on initially meeting them, or if
people joke about your irrational demeanor, you may actually be that
person.
We can't be happy all the time, but we can pay a little more attention
to what actually makes us naturally happy as opposed to synthetically.
Some things are fun for a little while, but go into those situations
knowing the final outcome of some of those actions won't be fun. It's a
weird cycle that so many people follow and allow to rip them apart. Because we try to create those impacting and lasting moment of life to look back on and reflect upon but miss the smaller things that
trickle by. Crazy.
Just pay attention to your surroundings and embrace your happiness.
That doesn't mean living on cloud nine at all because I know plenty of
people who only find happiness and fulfillment in life by helping others
achieve their own greatness. Don't write people off because of one
thing they say or make assumptions about their character without hearing
them out properly, because that could also cause you to miss out on one
of those incredible moments after closing a door too quickly.
Happiness takes exploring and leaving your comfort zone sometimes.
Those who live in a synthetic personal comfort like to stir up things to
make other people uncomfortable. Don't be that. Just be you. If you
don't know who you are, work on finding out until you do.
Find your own definition of happiness and enjoy the embrace while not being afraid to also embrace other people in the process.
Grace and Peace,
-Drew
http://www.jdrewsilvers.com
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