The following classifications are perceived by many people as sources of happiness:
(1) Family and friends
(2) Wealth
(3) Position/Rank
(4) Educational Achievement
(5) Fame (i.e. politics, arts, sports)
(1) Happiness In Family And Friends
The very first
place where happiness dwells is right in our own homes. We find
happiness just by being with our family
– our parents, spouse, children and
grandchildren. In fact, they are our source of strength and inspiration.
Having a harmonious
home life gives us happiness – one that we
truly cherish and treasure.
True friends are also a source of happiness. The support we get from them goes a long way in helping us to get by
in times of troubles. Somehow, friends make our life complete.
2) Happiness In Wealth
A lot of people
associate wealth with happiness. Almost everywhere in the world, people
are preoccupied in the acquisition
of wealth. They look upon wealth as the main
source of happiness. To some, wealth and happiness are synonymous.
Not that we should
despise the rich and the famous or discourage others from aspiring to
be so. There is nothing
wrong with dreaming of becoming rich just as
long as we acknowledge that wealth has limitations. Furthermore, our
priorities
must be clear from the very start. Clearly,
we must know what should rank first in order of priorities lest we spend
our days
in this world meaninglessly and without hope.
The pursuit of material riches should not be on top of our priority
list.
How many times
have we heard of people with millions of money but are willing to give
it away just to have peace
of mind? They live in a state of fear, that
is, fear of losing their wealth through robbery or theft. They also fear
for their
life and the lives of those they love. These
fears may even lead to sleepless nights, stress, tension, mental
anguish, heart
attack and death.
Understanding and accepting that happiness has nothing to do with the accumulation of wealth is perhaps the most liberating
realization we can ever come to.
3) Happiness In Rank And Position
Can real happiness be achieved through the attainment of high rank or position in society?
To many, the
answer is “yes.” For most people, having a high-ranking position is
synonymous to power. Such persons
would have the power to rule and lead. If
they become “good leaders,” they would be able to lead based on sound
moral values
and good work ethics. In return, they would
earn their people’s trust, obedience, support, loyalty and cooperation.
Eventually,
they would find happiness and satisfaction
doing their job.
However, any
person who is entrusted with authority and abuses it would definitely be
responsible for misuse of
power. His position would only be a source of
misery, as he will be confronted with issues such as corruption and
problems
like loss of public trust, public revolt,
coups d’etat, etc.
History can speak for
itself. How many unwanted rulers, kings, emperors, and presidents have
been overthrown? A good example
is former Philippine President Ferdinand
Marcos, who ruled the country for 20 long years, but his reign came to
an unfortunate
end. He was “thrown” out of his own country
by his own people and spent years thereafter in exile.
4) Educational Achievements
Can earning the highest level of education such as doctorate degrees give happiness? For people who derive happiness
from learning, knowledge is power. Some successful people have attained high levels of education.
However, we hear about
professional people who are successful in their own fields and yet feel
miserable and depressed because
they feel that something is missing in their
life. We hear of doctors being sued for malpractice and negligence, of
judges
committing suicide, and of many other sad
stories that are hard to believe but are actually happening to
professional people.
Does education really guarantee happiness?
5) Happiness In Fame
Fame is also associated with happiness. In sports and various careers, it is translated to victory, winning, and
attaining the status of a celebrity. Are famous men and women happy?
Let’s take the case of
sportsmen. They practically devote their whole lifetime practicing to be
the best at their chosen sport.
However, sports can sometimes be so
stressful, especially when they are carried to the extreme. Imagine the
kind of pressure
sportsmen have to go through to win over a
game. To cope with high expectations, they take prohibited drugs to have
the stamina
and endurance required in their chosen field!
Consider the despair, embarrassment, shame, and ridicule that they have to endure whenever they lose a game! So, let us ask
ourselves – can a life exposed to such pressures and humiliation be a truly happy life?
The story of the famous
football player, Diego Maradona, is a very good example. For a time, his
name was everywhere - in
media and on almost all advertisements.
Football earned him “wealth” and “fame.” But what caused his downfall?
He used cocaine
during an Italian league match! Consequently,
he was arrested.
Let’s focus our attention in the field of entertainment, specifically film and stage actors, singers, dancers, etc.
Is the world of entertainment a source of true happiness
It is surprising how many people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little
or nothing in common. Fun is short-lived while happiness is a more lasting and meaningful emotion.
Going to a ball game,
watching a movie or television are fun activities that may help us
relax. We “escape” and temporarily
forget our problems. After the movie or any
fun activities, reality sets in and we confront the same problems. There
are things
that do not and could not bring any real
happiness to the person because their positive effects last only as long
as the fun
lasts.
Let us analyze fun and
entertainment around us. It is a well-known fact that these so-called
celebrities have practically
everything that “seems to spell happiness” –
wealth, glamour, fancy cars, expensive homes, etc. However, it is also
no secret
that beneath all their fame are stories about
depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, children out of wedlock, broken
marriages,
extra marital affairs, etc. It is said that
Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock n Roll, died of drug
overdose.
For many, the
future is bleak. The continuing escalation of prices, natural and
man-made calamities, terrorism,
local and global strife, family problems,
poverty, criminality, famines and other crises do bring desperation and
hopelessness.
What they believe as
solutions to their problems turned out to be abysmal frustrations. Sad
to say, many have become withdrawn
and apathetic to their problems. Some have
become indifferent and unconcerned about what could happen next because
they have
done everything in their power to succeed,
but to no avail.
Can we still find happiness in such a depressing
situation? Yes, it is still possible to find happiness in such dire
predicaments!
What happens around us is largely beyond our
control, but the way we choose to react is within our control. In short,
even
in the midst of difficulties in life, we can
still make happiness happen; that is, if we want and choose to make it
happen.
True enough, life is what we make it! Isn’t
this a wonderful discovery?
Second key to happiness: Happiness is found within us. It depends on the choices that we make.
