Many consider the pursuit of happiness a religious endeavor. A deeper meaning to this life is, for many, what happiness is.
Hinduism states that happiness that comes from Moksha (heaven) does not wax or wane. It is constant. They believe that this is the final goal of human life: happiness.
Christians believe that pursuing happiness means recognizing that God created them to spread his love to others. Coinciding with this love that is given comes love for your life and, in turn, happiness.
The Quran states that every man should rejoice in Godly happiness, not in things of this world.
On the other hand, many also believe pursuing happiness has nothing to do with anything or anyone else, simply yourself.
“We shut off so much of ourselves to please others. I think if the world discontinues this behavior, happiness would seem less alien to us,” Gloria Peterson said, “Our personalities are gifts, and yet we disregard them to fit in so often.”
Happiness is a fundamental process in today’s society, regardless of your beliefs. Yet, so few people have been able to achieve it.
We all seek fulfillment, joy, and contentment in our lives. The pursuit of happiness varies between individuals, but one commonly shared factor exists—the active effort to create a life that aligns with one’s values, which is the main driving force of motivation in many people’s days. The loss of value can be highly prominent on busy days when it seems everything piles on top of you.
However, some people within the school seem to be able to combat this loss of value with high levels of emotional intelligence and pure optimism. The pursuit of happiness is one of the inalienable rights of American citizens, written in the foundation of our nation.
Regardless, many of us find ourselves struggling to make time for happiness.
I’ve asked therapists from around the area and students who fill these halls how they manage to find time for themselves and their happiness.
In interview after interview, the idea of values was brought up. Every person held a different idea of happiness, but values were the common thread throughout them all.
“We may define therapy as a search for value,” Abraham Maslow said.
World-renowned throughout history, Maslow has defined the concept of therapy as a search for value in day-to-day life.
The most common advice I received from every person I spoke to was to stick to those values.
“I just focus on the important things to me and my values. My therapist once said something I must tell you: “We gain happiness by upholding our values,” Bailey Elliott said, “I value honest relationships with people.”
Morals are placed in your heart for a reason and define every decision.
“Your happiness is ultimately reliant on those values. They outline your whole personality. You can do anything; if it goes against your values, it will not lead you to happiness,” Heidi Halgren said.
Though this task may seem simple, it can sometimes feel like the whole world is trying to get you to contradict your values.
Whether it’s people around you or even yourself, sometimes giving up on your values can seem easiest.
American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson recognizes this struggle. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment,” Emerson said.
This topic of concern in human nature has been discussed previously. As long as there are people, there is conformity.
Spending day after day with the same people, seven hours a day, can make you feel different. Every teenager has felt alone at some point. Despite this being a natural feeling, and sometimes without any reason to feel that way, many will do just about anything to combat this feeling.
Therapists from around the world recognize this as a universal issue. A common misconception is that this feeling of being different is a bad thing.
Almost every therapist recommends embracing this feeling. Understanding what makes you happy and pursuing it takes strength and bravery that is not embarrassing but admirable.
“Doing sports and activities that may not be as popular, but you like it, I think, is a strong way to find happiness,” Halgren said, “Hobbies and things you enjoy and spending time doing those things are important.”
Many also believe that the problem is not our lack of differences but “our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences,” as Roosevelt Thomas Jr. wrote in his book Building a House for Diversity.
The next time you pick out an outfit for school, change the music in your car or buy something, I challenge you to do what “little kid” you would have done.
Do what you would have done when you were five, careless and happy. What did you enjoy before you enjoyed pleasing others? What did you enjoy before you felt embarrassed?
The pursuit of happiness is not a cookie-cutter concept. It is a lifelong journey with no specific destination. Happiness lies in the journey, in self-discovery.
Who are you when no one is watching? Be that person out loud, be that person proudly. Pursue your happiness, not the happiness of those around you.
