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Who does not want to be happy in life? Happiness is the ultimate pursuit of everyone in life. Why do I say that? Just consider what you truly want in life, you can find that the ultimate goal of what one seeks in life is to be happy! For example, some people seek wealth, they want to be rich to be happy: happiness in satiating their material pleasures that money can buy. For others, they seek lifelong learning to be happy: happiness in satisfying their intellectual curiosity.

Thus as you can see from the above two examples, Happiness is ultimately what one seeks in life although the paths to achieving this common goal can be very different from a beggar aiming just enough food for himself daily to be happy, to a tycoon aiming to achieving another billion in his company revenue to be happy. Hence Happiness, though being a common sensation felt to everyone who has achieved it is really relative. Being happy or not really hinges on the expectations and goals one sets for himself, be it on a daily or a life-long basis. A student who has received 80 marks today for his test may be feeling unhappy as the score was below his goal of 90 marks, while a terminally-ill patient whose days are numbered is very happy and gratified to wake up today, knowing that he has another one precious day of his withering life to cherish and value.

Happiness also hinges on one's values and attitude towards life. Mary, a receptionist could have been feeling unhappy and low in moods after being scolded by a customer while Ann, another receptionist may be feeling happy after the same incident. What accounts for this difference in outcomes? As a famous author has noted, an outcome is made up of an event and response. While the event both Mary and Ann have experienced is the same, the way each responded to the event is vastly different. Mary could have a high self-esteem and being scolded by a customer certainly does not make her day! Ann, on the other hand, might be feeling happy after being chastised by the customer as she could have taken this as a good feedback and a great opportunity to learn to deal with difficult customers. As this case clearly illustrates, happiness has lots to do with our attitude towards life too!

To be happy in life, know what one wants in life. Set small goals each day, celebrate little successes, perceive failures as feedbacks. Do not be too overbearing on yourself in achieving your goals. Be contented at times, realize that you might have what others are seeking of, be it good health, a good mind or a good family. Last but not least, spend time with family, friends and loved ones for bonding. Volunteer for good causes, contributing to the community and helping the less fortunate also makes your day as it makes for the people you help too!

Learn more about this author, Ong Kian Hui.
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