“Happiness is like a bubble and we should not hold it but allow it to travel”
She asked a question in one of her training sessions whether a rich man who sleeps in the AC room is happy or a not so rich but sleeps in his small house with a fan is happy. Assume that it is summertime. Most people told her that the rich don't have to worry about the future much and he is sleeping comfortably, therefore he is happy. And the rest mentioned that the not so rich are also happy in his own lives.
He is not yet exposed to sleeping in the AC room, therefore he would not even know that his happiness is related to AC room comforts. She wanted to extend this conversation because she indeed liked the perception.
So her subsequent questions were,
1. Are we feeling happy because of some material pleasure?
2. Is it true that happiness is achieved through accomplishment of goals?
3. Are we measuring happiness? If yes, is it checked with some customized parameters?
They are all fundamental questions however they are not easy to get answers, people have to spend time reflecting on their journey. She truly enjoyed the spell of silence in the class, because all wanted to contradict with their opinions but allowed the thought of different perspectives.
Financial security has a direct connection and certainly impacts happiness status. However, it might reduce after a certain threshold.
Maslow’s theory talks about it elaborately for an easy understanding. Happiness is connected with the purpose of life and definitely it’s not a goal. Success can bring us happiness but sustained happiness is through being satisfied, practicing gratitude, showing care, stable relationships, fearlessness, and at last working on wellness of our body and mind.
When she concluded with an activity sheet with all these above mentioned points, almost all agreed to this point that it doesn’t matter whether someone is rich or poor, his own life experiences enhance sustainable happiness.
Comments