What Is True Happiness?
Several psychologists and neurologists have different opinions on this. Gandhi’s quote on happiness, working in alignment with what you think, say, and do, reminds us that our joy will not be fulfilled once we reach a certain goal or become a millionaire, but when we put action into having contentment with ourselves. Let’s dive into this topic; you’ll soon realize how vital true happiness is for us as humans and how it can be served to you in a way you may not have thought of. It is necessary for our Neuro-Well-Being and self-development.
This past month, I finished the book “The Mountain is You” By Brianna Wiest. When reading this book, I discovered a universal truth about finding real happiness that changed my life. You see, as a human, you’ve probably experienced several moments in your life where you thought you’d be happy once you get something, or be up to your own standards. Wiest teaches us that our brains get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and even once we’ve reached a goal or desire that’s been nagging at our happiness for years, we still feel unsatisfied and need more to work towards to achieve happiness. This is how she concludes it: “Happiness is not a state to be chased or acquired but a natural state that arises from inner peace and alignment¹”
When I realized that I was unconsciously self-sabotaging myself by allowing my brain to stay in that rut of the feeling of lack, I became sort of angry and determined to get out of it. Similar to how James Clear stated, your identity influences your thoughts and behaviours. You need to avoid telling yourself you’re not good-looking, and you will only be good-looking once you’ve undergone some intense procedure. Your identity is tied to your beliefs; if you have a negative view of yourself, you will have a negative identity. A Christian preacher once stated, “You’re not a sick person, you’re a person experiencing sickness.” This is an example of how your thoughts and actions influence your character, and if they are negative, they can hinder your self-development.
What can you do to experience true happiness? This is an important question, even after I’ve established positive ways of thinking and perspective change, it’s still hard to apply them. Over time, you will become better at dealing with your situation and choosing to find some happiness within it. Don’t wait for someone to appreciate you; appreciate yourself! Award little achievements or life changes you’ve made. Find gratitude in aspects of your life; there is always something you should be grateful for. Even though it seems insufficient now, remember that life is like stepping in the same river at different times; it’s always changing, it’s up to you to reflect and take care of your self-development and neuro-well-being. Until next time,
-R.J.
References:
- Wiest, Brianna. The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery. Through Catalog Books, 2020.
Neuro-Wellbeing & The Developing Self 
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