Happiness is just gratification
Happiness, as we humans define is a kind of joy that lasts. We chase happiness because it seems like a worthy end goal. After all, life would be great if we could only be happy, right?
As I see it, our methods of finding happiness aren’t correct. We find happiness in possessions, obsessions, senses, emotions, and relations. But all of these things give us only momentary joy. What we are chasing is gratification masquerading as happiness.
Happiness from buying a new car doesn’t last that long. A new phone? A nice meal that you just had? A new house? A new friendship? A new relationship, for that matter? All of these things give us joy that has an associated lifespan. Unfortunately, that lifespan isn’t very long either.
Think about friendships as well - just being friends with someone we like doesn’t give us lasting happiness. We feel happy when we interact with them or think about them - to me, this feels quite temporary. Being in a relationship is joyful but also equally hurtful at times. Both of these emotions have a lifespan.
So then, aren’t we chasing gratification and not happiness in the true sense? Because that’s the only thing that we can run after. Sweeping away all other emotions like anger, sadness, hurt, resentment, guilt, etc. under the carpet doesn’t help us become happy either. This may bring temporary relief, but these emotions have their own space in our lives, in our hearts, and in our minds.
What makes matters worse is that the ETA for gratification has come down drastically. We desire, and are able to find more gratification faster, not realizing the futility of it. Happiness is more than the sum of gratifications that we think constitute it. Happiness is perhaps elusive. Maybe, it doesn’t even exist?
I wish to examine this further in subsequent posts.
Namaste.