Happiness is not by chance: I’ve heard so many definitions of happiness, but none of them seem to make a lot of sense. Some of these quotes talk about taking control of happiness. The other types talk about the importance of letting things be and being a spectator in life.
I can see the value in both types of conversations. But the ultimate reality is to find peace in our life and find a way to live with ourselves right? This quote in particular talks about creating happiness and ensuring that we create the circumstances necessary to be happy.
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Meaning of Happiness is not by chance
I’m a bit conflicted about this quote – it seems to tell me that we always know what creates our happiness. It also ignores a point that there’s a certain happiness in the quest of the unknown, the sense of adventure and exploring what life can give us. On the other hand, if we over extend on the adventure side of happiness, we miss out on what’s in front of us.
Hence the conflict in the meaning of happiness is not by chance but by choice. It is however a wonderful theory because it means that we can be in control of our happiness. In other words, once we decide to be happy, we can be – that’s the end of it. I suppose the truth however is in the midway between the two. There has to be a fair balance between the quest of finding happiness and not being obsessed by it.
Happiness is not by chance
This belief gives us more control on happiness as an event. If happiness is not by chance, we can create the environemnt which makes us happy and be happy all the time. It also means that we don’t have to create anything that makes us unhappy resulting in a predictable life.
However, if happiness is a chance event, it becomes unpredictable. We all like the sense of certainty, the ability to repeat scenarios that give us joy. Hence the quote happiness is not by chance makes us feel very nice. It gives us a sense that we can control and create the situations to make us happy.
Although I see the conflict in these two statements, I think the balance is in defining and understanding what makes us happy. The results will always be elusive but the process is something that we can control. In other words, we can be the creators of our happiness in life.
Happiness is by choice – Jim Rohn
Maybe happiness need not be the goal of life. Instead, it is just about experiencing the joy we get and the sorrow when it surfaces. In other words, examining, experiencing the emotions and circumstances as they come. The false sense of control in life may give us a tick-box exercise. It may even give us a feeling that we are in control. But this feeling fleets as circumstances change.
Don’t fall into this trap of assuming the power to create happiness in life. The most important power we have is to face situations as they are and go ahead with life. It is a aggrandising image that says I control my circumstances and hence I can always be happy. Is that even possible? Can we ever be in control of all things in this world so that we are eternally happy? Don’t you find this as much as a marketing statement and a lie?
Happiness is not by chance, but by choice
Jim Rohn
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