Are you happy?
Am I happy? I’m not sure, to be completely honest.
Maybe it’s too hard to define. What is “happy” anyway?
Can you show me your number on a happiness meter?
I’m learning happy is a really “easy to use” description for what we think want to feel. Maybe it’s what we think we NEED to feel. It’s also entirely ambiguous.
What is happy? To me it’s as simple as a smile.
Webster tells us it is feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. Pleasure sounds good. I like pleasure. More pleasure please (and thank you)!
Contentment…sounds like, just “happy” enough. One could also call this boredom.
Boredom is a DANGEROUS word. Happy may be as well.
You’re probably asking, “Well, if I’m not happy, what am I Zac?” The answer is simple. You’re UN-happy.
All jokes aside, I think people are looking for or using the wrong definition in search of their emotions.
The goal for saying you’re happy is what? To shun the world from what’s really going on in your head? Maybe.
Maybe you just want to be happy…but being happy means what? Instead what if you looked at the HOW that drew your emotions to be felt at this higher level of being and feeling?
I think people (myself included) need to be in search of FLOURISHING instead of happiness.
What is the main difference of Happy vs. Flourishing?
Contentment (Happy) vs. Developing & Thriving (Flourishing)
Human beings need challenge. We need that “spark” to set our bellies on fire with determination and vigor. Life is so much easier enjoyed when it’s lived in a flourishing state.
Show me someone who is trying to be “Happy” and I may find someone who is just bored enough. Think of all the people we’ve seen with seemingly everything they’d ever need at their fingertips. They should be “Happy”, but they’re not. Why? Because they have NO CHALLENGES to conquer.
Contrast this to someone you know who is “Flourishing” in their life. What do they look like?
- Energized
- Deeply Engaged
- Challenged
- Tenacious
- Passionate
- Focused
- Driven
- Succeeding
- Growing
Growing through the engagement of learning or taking on adversity. Growing and making progress. Thriving!
ACTION ITEM: Stop looking for happiness. It’s vague.
