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Happiness, state to which we all aspire, each individual’s ultimate goal. But what is the path to follow to reach this goal? And what does this goal precisely consist of? 
The concept underlying this word seems obvious to each one of us, but when we have to define it precisely, no one can do it. We all have our own idea of what happiness is, based on what we suppose would make us happy.

To me, the definition of happiness is simple: being happy, it’s being able to satisfy one’s needs. These can be basic, vital needs, practical, material needs, or relation and love needs (in the general sense of the word: filial, friendship, and amorous love). They are not all at the same level, but satisfying each of them can lead to happiness. Of course, the list of the needs to satisfy should not be endless, otherwise we’ll never reach happiness, which, obviously, is not what we aim for.

Obviously, satisfying the basic needs (eating, drinking, access to health care, etc.) is essential to be happy. It's hard to be fully happy if everyday we have to wonder how, and if, we're gonna eat and be able to feed our family...

The present society convinces us to look for happiness in possessing and accumulating goods. Considering the suicide and depression rates in rich, Western societies, this path is obviously not the right one.
It may give some answers, because in these societies, wealth can help one satisfy their vital needs, and this can't unfortunately be done in poor countries: eating and drinking one's fill, accessing health care when one is sick, having a roof over one's head, etc. (even though 100% of the population can't satisfy these needs in France, we're still closer to this percentage than in numerous African or Asian countries).
This model society only resolves a part of the equation, and it resolves it badly as it forces each individual to acquire more and more, then postponing the reaching of happiness: I'll be happy when I get a Wii, when I get this game for it, when I have a plasma screen for a better game experience, then 2000 € loudspeakers for an amazing sound, when I have a car better than the one I currently own, when I have new sheets, when I have a bigger flat, then when I have this and that. We never stop to enjoy what we longed for and managed to acquire. On top of that, this society is based on individualism, the satisfaction of one's own needs, and it doesn't always leave us with enough time to take care of others (friends, family). Communication tools bring us closer to inhabitants of faraway countries, but bring us farther to our neighbours. There is little exchange between people and gatherings of people, often because of a lack of time (all the more than we need to "work more to earn more"), and because of the use of technological means of communication such as the Internet or the telly that encloses us into our own homes.
I dream of seeing spontaneous, festive gatherings of people, not organised by the authorities. Unfortunately, even to have fun to a large scale, permits are mandatory... :/

In any case, whatever the vision of happiness we have, that we believe we can only reach it by consuming or by any other way, it's always an action we must undertake, something that we decide. I'll be happy when I'm rich, when I have a lot of friends, when I live in Australia, when I eat my fill...

It's the first thing to remember: being happy is a conscious decision.

The drawback of this method of happiness being dependent to the satisfaction of one's needs is that happiness is to come, postponed, future, and that the risk is that we eventually realise we were wrong, we believed we'd be happy once we have conquered the heart of the woman we love or once we have bought the house of our dreams, and then we realise it's not what we expected and we find ourselves facing with problems we didn't expect. In a word, disappointment, all the harsher than we had made all the efforts we could to reach this goal.

It is then important to clearly define one's essential needs and to aim at their satisfaction, and to build one's happiness each and everyday, one little step after another, enjoying what we already have and what we've accomplished.
It also means we have to look deeply into ourselves to define what really matters and is essential to us. So, the first thing is to really know ourselves, honestly, without complacency, then review each of the need categories, list what is essential to be satisfied, how to satisfy these essential needs, and to balance the satisfaction of these three categories (I need to eat, but what do I want to eat, cheap food or expensive food? Then, I need to work to be able to afford the kind of food I want, so what is the amount of work required to buy this food? And work takes time away from my social life, what is the amount of time I'm ready to invest in working instead of socialising, making friends and nurturing my love life?). When everything is settled, working smoothly, we need to TAKE TIME TO ENJOY things, to enjoy the meal, to enjoy the time spent with our loved ones, to enjoy the object we've been longing for for so long, we need to take time to be happy with all these moments. For happiness is a sentiment of the moment. We can say to ourselves: I'll be happy once I've reached this goal, but we mustn't forget, once the goal reached, to take time to open our heart on the feeling of happiness we tried to obtain by aiming at this goal! 

The following text sums it all up:

Happiness

If you don't find happiness,
it may be because you are looking for it elsewhere...
Elsewhere than in your shoes.
Elsewhere than in your home.

According to you, others are happier.
But you don't live with them.
You forget everyone has their own troubles.
You surely wouldn't like their life better.

How can you love life
If your heart is filled with envy,
If you don't like yourself,
If you don't accept yourself?

The biggest obstacle to happiness, undoubtedly,
Is to dream of too big a happiness.
Learn to welcome happiness drop after drop:
littles ones make the oceans.

Don't look for happiness in your memories.
Don't look for it in the future either.
Look for happiness in the present.
It's the only place it waits for you.

Happiness is not an object
You can find somewhere outside of you.
Happiness is simply a project
that comes from you and is realised in you.

There is no shop for happiness.
There is no machine for happiness.
There only exist people who believe in happiness.
People create their own happiness themselves.

If you can't stand the face you see in your mirror,
what good is there to break your reflection?
There is no need to break your mirror.
It's you that you have to change!


Charles-Eugène PLOURDE, Une lumière sur mes pas, Trois-Rivières 2003

 

 

And here's another text that describes the symptoms of the disease of happiness:

 

The disease of happiness

WARNING! A global epidemic is spreading at breathtaking speed. The WWO (Well-being World Organisation) estimates that billions of people will be affected within the next ten years.

Here are the symptoms of the dramatic disease:

1- Tendency to follow one's personal intuition instead of acting under the pressure of fears, received ideas and conditioning of the past.

2- Complete lack of interest in judging others and oneself, and being interested in anything that results in conflicts.

3- Complete loss of the ability to worry (one of the most severe symptoms).

4- Constant pleasure of loving things and beings the way they are, which leads to the disappearance of the habit of wanting to change others.

5- Intense desire to transform oneself to develop one's potentials of health, creativity, and love.

6- Repeated attacks of smiles, the kind of smile that says "thank you" and gives a feeling of unity and harmony with every living thing.

7- Ever increasing openness to childhood spirit, simplicity, laugh, and cheerfulness.

If you want to keep living in fear, conflicts, illness, and conformism, avoid all contact with persons showing these symptoms. This disease is highly contagious. If you already show some of the symptoms, you must know your condition is probably irreversible. Chemical, medical treatments can make some of the symptoms disappear momentarily, but can't stop the unavoidable spreading of the disease. There is no known cure. As the disease of happiness causes a complete loss of the fear of dying, which is the central pillar of the belief system of the modern, materialistic society, severe social troubles can occur, such as strikes of the warlike spirit, gatherings of happy people to sing, dance, and celebrate life, circles of share and healing, and collective crises of giggles.

 

Fushichô

 

December 24, 2007

Happiness
 
© 2010 Fushichô