The Art of being happy!!

We all talk about being happy and remaining happy. We tell others to do so all the time. But then, how does one remain happy? What constitutes happiness? And, what can one do to be and remain happy?


Okay, if you are wondering why I am stating all these questions here today, then the reason is a small get-together I had with my cousins. It was not a festive occasion and we had not planned the get-together. A close relative had expired after a prolonged incapacitation. Of course we were sad but our hearts also went out to him for whom it was a peaceful end to misery. Now, we cousins just sat together discussing a lot of things when one of them mentioned her and her family’s association with the ISKCON Temple. She told us how the teachings of Shri Bhagwat Geeta, being popularized by the people associated with the Temple, have brought changes in their lives. She said that the entire family; she, her husband, her two lovely daughters and an infant son, her sister-in-law; all of them have gained from the teachings and that now they are much more at peace with themselves and feel the happiness within.

That got me thinking how spirituality or religion can make someone happy. She sought and got happiness in the teachings of Geeta and in volunteering to further spread them to other people. But, is it necessary to go to Temples and listen to sermons to ensure happiness within? Another of my relative, my Bhabhi, finds solace and happiness in the teachings of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, ‘The Art of Living’. She too has taken an initiative of spreading the teachings to others through prayer songs. It brings her happiness, joy and revelry.

Then again there is a different set of people I often come across. People who go clubbing, attend parties and enjoy dancing at discotheques are quite in number. Some drink and have fun, with (or at times without) friends. They say they find happiness in that. They don’t find the same feeling by drowning themselves in the God’s spirit. They live for the day and don’t worry about their future. Most of them are doing well in their personal lives, they spend lavishly and tend to forget their career and family related tensions in their loud, grand and feisty idea of having fun. To them this is being happy and blissful.

Yet others find joys of reading, travelling, listening to music and, in short, pursuing their interests and hobbies as means to gain happiness. They take time out for themselves and do what they like. For that moment, they too forget their troubles and drown themselves in their own blissful corner of enchanting thoughts. Does that mean pursuing one’s own interests brings happiness? Or ignoring everything else, including family, friends and work means the person is rather being self-centered?

This makes me think again. And thought I have. It made me conclude that happiness is basically a choice that we make for ourselves. Somewhere deep down we decide for ourselves how we want to be happy. We ourselves, consciously or sub-consciously, choose our source of happiness. Be it the spiritual or the worldly pleasures. The source of people’s happiness is basically a choice they have made for themselves. Now, I would refrain from saying which is a better choice because that again should not be my prerogative. Besides, every individual is entitled to make his/her decisions and choices: to each his own.

I can only say about my choices. I too have chosen to be happy. But, to be happy neither have I chosen to open a virtual spiritual door (not yet at least) nor have I adopted a devil-may-care attitude and resorted to ‘worldly pleasures’. Instead, I have chosen not to delve on the past and rather work on my present and look forward towards my future. I will not think about what my future could have been had my past been different. (Please note I use different and not better). I revel in the company of my most wonderful family and precious friends. I find happiness in simple pleasures like spending time with my daughter and mom; catching up with my sisters, going shopping and to restaurants; chatting with my friends (on phone, messengers, mails and even SNSs); and having work on my hands to accomplish. Once in a while I do enjoy pursuing my interests and likes. But, all in all, I rejoice in what I have accomplished in my life till now; I pride in my personal growth; and I look forwards to challenges lying ahead (even if to test myself and know how well I may be able to handle them). Every day, I celebrate my existence and I love my being. THAT makes ME happy. THAT is what I choose for myself.