We live in a society that constantly tells us to pursue happiness. Happiness is seen as the ultimate goal of life, the measure of success, and the source of fulfillment. But is happiness really all that it’s cracked up to be?
Don’t get me wrong, happiness is a wonderful emotion that we should all experience and enjoy. But happiness when driven by our ego is also fleeting, dependent on external factors, and sometimes even harmful. Happiness can make us complacent, selfish, and short-sighted. Happiness can blind us to the deeper realities of life, such as suffering, injustice, and mortality. Happiness is a choice – not a destination.
That’s why I believe that instead of chasing happiness, we should choose our meaning. Meaning is the sense of purpose, significance, and value that we derive from our lives. Meaning is what gives us direction, motivation, and resilience. Meaning is what makes us human.
Meaning is not something that we find or receive from outside. Meaning is something that we create and give to ourselves and others. Meaning is the result of our choices, actions, and relationships. Meaning is the expression of our values, passions, and gifts.
How do we create meaning in our lives? There are many ways, but here are some of the most important ones:
Choose your why: What is your reason for being? What is your mission in life? What is your contribution to the world? Choose your why and align your life with it.
Serve a cause greater than yourself: What is the problem that you want to solve? What is the change that you want to make? What is the legacy that you want to leave? Serve a cause greater than yourself and make a positive impact on others.
Cultivate authentic relationships: Who are the people that you love and care about? Who are the people that support and inspire you? Who are the people that you can trust and rely on? Cultivate authentic relationships and share your life with them.
Embrace challenges and growth: What are the obstacles that you face? What are the skills that you want to learn? What are the experiences that you want to have? Embrace challenges and growth and overcome your fears and limitations.
Express gratitude and appreciation: What are the things that you are grateful for? What are the things that you appreciate? What are the things that you celebrate? Express gratitude and appreciation and acknowledge the goodness in your life.
These are some of the ways that you can create meaning in your life. By doing so, you’ll not only enrich your own life, but also the lives of others. Choose happiness via , but also fulfillment. You will not only live, but also thrive.
So stop chasing happiness and start chasing meaning. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments. I would love to hear from you. 😊