Recently, while out and about with a friend, I saw this sign that read:
“Happiness is not a destination, it’s a way of life”
Its message made me think.
Too often we make our happiness dependent on goals, or reaching specific milestones. We tell ourselves we’ll be happy once we have that dream house, a great job, loose weight, find a partner etc
But we can’t wait to be happy. Because if we don’t allow ourselves to be happy now, the danger is we might never be. We’ll just keep pushing the goal posts along. And meanwhile, the time will pass without us ever appreciating it.
You might find that dream house, but then it needs to be renovated and decorated. So now you’re going to need a better job with a higher salary, to enable you to decorate your dream home in order to be completely happy …(I think you get the idea.)
The time is now. Give yourself permission to be happy today. Find pleasure in the simple and beautiful things every day. Celebrate the little victories all along the way. Enjoy the journey – make it a happy one.
In the words of Aristotle: “Happiness depends on ourselves.”
I agree. But people tend to see happiness that way. And it’s very depressing.