The Path to Happiness

What does it take to be truly happy? In the world we live in today, some feel that happiness is linked to the job you have, your accumulation of friends, the amount of money in your bank account, or tied to how much you have. Research would contradict this, as it suggests that it is not how much one has accumulated that brings happiness, but that it is more closely linked to a sense of purpose, non-attachment, acceptance, and contributing to something larger than oneself. The Greeks had a word for happiness that incorporates the ultimate well-being by way of virtue and excellence: Eudaimonia. This type of happiness was not attached to a destination, or a person, or things - it was happiness for happiness sake. In fact some have said that eudaimonia does not mean "happiness" at all as happiness can be considered both an emotion and a feeling, but eudaimonia can be a state of mind that is achieved through living authentically in one's own path. Whereas certain types of happiness can be taken away because it is attached to something external, eudaimonia cannot.

Furthering this point is the way the ancient Greeks design words because as you break this word apart, you find some embedded treasures. The prefix "Eu" means "good," "true," or "well," and indicates that something is done in an excellent manner. To the ancient Greeks, "daimon" meant "godlike," "divine," or "guiding force". Putting this together one could say that happiness comes from living an authentically true life that aligns with the higher self, or the divine self. It is not attached to a goal rather, happiness comes from living your life in such a way that with each decision that you make, you would make that decision regardless of what others think of you, what "reward" you may get in return, or in relation to any external motivation.

Admittedly, take a look at the decisions that you have made in just the past 24 hours, or perhaps this past week. Did you make those decisions based on anything external? Was there an external motivation or reward? Perhaps you made those decisions because you wanted to be seen a certain way, or perhaps because you were avoiding a punishment or the consequences to something. For there to be true happiness, the decisions that you make must make sense to you, regardless of whether or not they make sense to someone else. Your path is unique to you, and the experiences that you have had up unto this moment have shaped the way that you see the world; it is the very lens that you look through. This is in part why you may make a decision that is the opposite or different from someone else, because you see the world differently.

In turn, this does not mean that everyone will agree with your decisions all of the time, and you may not agree with the other person's decisions. It does not make you right and the other person wrong, or visa versa. It just means that your experiences have led you to where you are and you are exploring a different path, and maybe that's okay. As one allows deep self-reflection, there is an exploration of what is "good" or "right" in accordance with the higher virtue of that "divine guiding force" toward living a life on purpose. This concept means different things to each person, as each person has unique lessons to learn and a different way of seeing life.

So what would make you truly happy? While that is a truly personal question that deserves ample amount of reflection, here are some facilitative keys to happiness below:

• Practice Non-Attachment

Buddhism teaches that when there is attachment, there is suffering. When you are attached to the outcome, you create suffering and more emotional turmoil within your being. Trying to control people, events, or the way that something goes ties your energy up in knots and can allow anger to rise. To practice non-attachment, allow situations to be as they are, without thinking that they "should" be different. This type of awareness takes patience, practice, and a deeper understanding that things are subject to change. Just because you want something to be different does not mean it should be. Allow yourself to let go of your desire to control the outcome. Give yourself permission to observe your thoughts and feelings without trying to control or fixate on what you feel should be different.

By practicing non-attachment, you allow yourself the freedom to let go and embrace the flow of what is. It also allows you to be more flexible in your thinking and embrace uncertainty, instead of feeling anxious and afraid of what might happen. This can help to reduce stress, improve relationships, and contribute to overall well-being.

• Self-Care & Self-Acceptance

  Self-care is the ability to prioritize and monitor your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. It is knowing what you need to stay in balance with yourself and allowing yourself to nurture and nourish yourself. Self-acceptance is being able to embrace your own duality, the yin and yang within your being, and appreciating that you are allowed to fumble forward. It is accepting that you are imperfect and that you are allowed to explore ways of living that work best for you. It is also the wisdom to acknowledge your strengths, your weaknesses, your flaws, and experiences without judgement.

  
  

  Combining self-care with self-acceptance can help one to recenter by releasing the image that one carries so as to embrace living authentically. In this way, you allow yourself to be imperfect and are able to love yourself for trying, even if it looks differently to others expectations. It also allows you to objectively look at what you need to work on as well as embracing your strengths that may be unique to you.

  
  

• Life of Purpose

  The journey to happiness includes a life of purpose, where one finds personal meaning connecting to something larger than oneself. For your life to have meaning, you cannot live according to someone else's value-system, it has to be your own. Otherwise, there is a lack of authenticity, connection, and deeper understanding as to why you are doing what you are doing. To create a life of purpose, there is self-reflection, being open to curiosity and continuous learning, and allowing yourself to cultivate virtue and excellence.

  
  

  Undoubtedly, those who are truly happy practice mindfulness and introspection and this leads to greater self-awareness. When there is greater self-awareness, there is a chance to understand what motivates you to behave in certain ways, finding your strengths and your weaknesses. Within this there are opportunities to find your gifts and talents that are unique to you. And in the words of Picasso: "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."

  
  

  In summary, there are multiple paths to finding one's purpose and true happiness. By aligning oneself with a deeper sense of values, self-reflection, and finding meaning in living a life on purpose that helps to serve others, one can feel deeply connected and fulfilled. Happiness is not about an end goal, but rather it is a state of mind that comes from a continuous practice of aligning actions and decisions with your own core values. By releasing attachment, learning how to let go of how you think things should be, and prioritizing your wellbeing, you allow yourself to create a path to happiness.