Can you really handle being happy?

Happiness; one word, a thousand meanings and interpretations since the beginning of mankind. If it could be of singular meaning I bet we wouldn’t be breaking our heads trying to define it; basically because it isn’t solely based on our biological needs anymore. When you mention it, your mind forms millions of connections- and then it just hits you. It has to do with everything little thing that surrounds you. And even that idea seems so little, so simplistic, when you compare it to the big picture. Shit.

So what is happiness anyway? People say that we experience it everyday even when most of the time we’re not aware of it. Is it when you see yourself in the mirror smiling back? Is it when someone tells you that they love you? When you have more money than you can spend? The expensive car, or fabulous job? The cool shoes, phone and make up? The good friends and loving family by your side?

I can’t answer this question; I can’t reply for each and everyone on this planet we live in. But I think that we need to redefine happiness. Why? Because I meet people, and watch the ones around me everyday, trying to reach the point of being happy some day. It’s all going to happen one day in the future – just not today. Yet, another day passes and everything is still the same; and then another day comes.

And all I have is one question: can you handle it?

Can you handle being really happy? Are you ready to do whatever it takes to get whatever is it that you want, or be whoever you want yourself to be?

The one common thing I see is people expressing or describing how they want to see themselves in the future. But they do nothing about it- it’s going to manifest itself by its own. Guess what happens with this way of thinking — You settle. You settle for okay, instead of amazing; or at least great. Amazing in the way you’re going to define it.

Ususally, when I think about all this, one thing immediately comes to my mind. All the famous people, in any department, that did something great with themselves or with an idea they got out of nowhere.

You think they didn’t have doubts, or the smallest insecurity or fear when they started? But they put it all back and listened instead to what they really wanted. They didn’t care how long this is going to take, or the obstacles they were about to face. They were perfectly sure about both of them- they knew they’ll be there. And I’m perfectly sure that they were okay with that.

It might seem cliché reading this, but if you really think about it… it’s something that happens everyday. People full of regrets, missed chances, missed hopes and an endless search of happiness. A search that leads absolutely nowhere in the end.

Why? Because we people view happiness as the ultimate destination in life. And we spend all the amount of our lives chasing it. Predictably, it runs away. Want a illustration of this to see what I mean? Picture all these famous people that went all in just for the money, the fame and the cool objects; I think you get it now. They thought too that they’ll be happy if they have all of these.

So my redefinition is this. Happiness isn’t the ultimate destination. It’s a mood, but mostly a feeling; and we tend to forget this from time to time. Or better yet, we forget it completely. And that is why when it comes to happiness, some people are scared to go for it and settle and others chase it so hard only to realize at the end that they’ve looking at it in the wrong places.

I say we do something different. Let’s get our dreams and goals on the table, and go for them. Let’s accept that instant gratification isn’t going to be on the menu. Let’s realize that things take time, and this at the end is proven to be a good thing. Let’s acknowledge that fear, doubt are always going to be there no matter what we do; but we can face them with courage and grace. But most importantly, let’s not forget that we live in a world of opposites. Happiness doesn’t exist without sadness. You can’t be happy all the time, you can’t be sad all the time. It’s called balance.

And if we think again that happiness again is a mood, I think it’s going to make our lives a lot easier. We can have our dreams; but we mustn’t forget that happiness comes and goes. And that is perfectly okay.