17 Jul How and why you can be happy despite it all
I think we all want happiness; even if we realise we can’t possibly feel happy all the time.
But for some of us it’s hard, especially when external events aren’t always conducive to feeling positive and joyful.
But nothing about real happiness needs to deny the real world, in fact real and authentic happiness faces up to the cold hard realties of the world and addresses then in a constructive way that allows for the positive emotions to override and maybe even overwhelm the negative ones.
For example …
- setting and working towards meaningful goals doesn’t mean there won’t be obstacles and failures along the way. There will be. In fact, they’re part of the way
- prioritising physical health and wellbeing doesn’t mean you won’t get sick, or experience injuries. You will! But the lessons learned in and through recovery can be invaluable
- the fact there are problems in the world need not negate the possibility of hope and optimism. It is, in fact, hope and optimism that will allow us to overcome these problems
- in the same way, we can feel grateful while still acknowledging what’s lacking. We can be happy where we are and still aspire to have or to enjoy more
- and feeling frustration or irritation with family and friends is normal. We’re all imperfect and so of course we’re going to upset others and they’ll upset us. But real love and real friendship is staying connected fully, with the full person, with all of them, their good and bad just as we hope they’ll like or love us for all of who we are
Real and meaningful happiness doesn’t require a perfect life or a perfect world. If it did, we’d NEVER be happy!