The Pursuit of Happiness

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
- Martha Washington 

What do we require in life? I believe that the only thing we should strive for in this life of ours is happiness.  Do we require money to be happy? Do we require health? Or do we require sex to be happy? Yes money, health and sex are pre-requisite to be happy. But are these enough? Ask a person in the streets as to what he wants to be happy in life. And he may tell you its food. Ask some student and he may tell you that he will be happy when he gets 90+ marks in his exams. It’s so confusing. But the question seemed simple. Your definition for happiness and what do we require for being happy?

In my school days, if I was asked the same question, I would have answered that I require 85+ marks to be happy. Then I went to Manipal for my engineering. And this period actually transformed me to a great extent. But the unquenchable desire for marks never left me. From 7.35 to 9.6 GPA, I progressed because of my hard work. And the coincidence is that I was the happiest during that period. So does this mean that excellence is the key to happiness? The day I had left college, there is an urge to do my MBA. I have already written two CATs after that. I sometimes feel guilty of having left education after my engineering days, just to work for some money. And I can bet you that money has not made be happy. Mind you, it’s not bad money. But still, money is not the answer. 

Sometimes I wonder after looking at the big apartments in Nagpur, whether I will ever be able to buy one of them. Property rates in Nagpur are already sky high. Having born in a middle class family with just enough to meet the monthly requirements doesn’t help. But I am sure that being the owner of a flat/apartment doesn’t make you the happiest man on earth. Had it been true, Mukesh Ambani would have been the happiest man on earth. I am not saying that Ambani called me and was sobbing on the phone while talking to me.  I am just saying that there is something else which one requires for being happy. All our lives, we just revolve about this one thing, Happiness.

I guess the answer to the question I ask is a good social life. I am not talking about the kitty parties which the rich class thrown to show off. I am talking about the real friends. Having friends around you is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. When you can talk your heart out to that person, it feels immensely satisfactory. I had been to Bhopal in the months of January and February this year. And I believe that it was one of the happier times. It was because I had something after my job to look forward to. I had a social life. I had a separate identity. The group discussions at Career Launcher, Bhopal gave me something to look forward to after 6pm. And I loved it. So we need to find that activity that we actually love doing. There is nothing wrong in trying. After all, this is the only one life we have got!!

 “Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder ...” - Henry David Thoreau