By Sadie York
What does it mean to truly and authentically be happy?
Oftentimes, people struggle with this complex question. It’s an ever-evolving emotion which comes naturally and is desired to be maintained. Thus, in society, there’s a common stigmatization around being discontent, yet it’s hard to define the true nature of this concept as “true happiness” looks different for everyone. In this lifelong pursuit of merriment—endured by all humans—people generally lose a sense of self, and in this chase, deplete themselves of internal resources. This troublesome effect generally causes a despairing feeling of emptiness, masking itself as a false happiness.
Driven by the “naturally intended cycle of human life,” most people are expected to build their futures upon the generic outline: college, job, pay off debt, struggle, marry, kids, work, retire. And if spontaneous enough to break outside of this path, to create your own happiness, that discontent still finds its way to seep in. The question is always: What more? What else? How much? Constantly pushing new narratives and experiences to achieve what one believes will make them happy often pushes them farther away from their intended goal.
In forcing “distractions” which one hopes will cause temporary euphoria, sources of discontent fail to be addressed head-on, and those deep pits of desolation continue to expand. Unknowingly, those empty feelings begin to blend with the forced “happiness” one’s mind believes to have achieved, and the cycle begins.
It’s so difficult for people to define their source of happiness because they’re constantly chasing their next dose of euphoria. However, when scouring for the things which may cause temporary satisfaction, people often hollow themselves out trying and end up emptier than before. The delusions of “false joy” stem from momentary bliss, which abruptly ends, and thus withdraws the source from a more sustainable happiness. Constantly chasing that short-term elation which can’t be replicated leads to disappointment, and a deeper pit takes root within.
Happiness is a desired emotion to be achieved naturally, but it’s also important to let your life take its course, as you’ll never be content searching for something better than the last.