Why I Gave Up On Happiness
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I, Patrick Mathieu, have given up my quest for happiness.
That’s right, I am no longer striving to achieve happiness.
A few weeks ago I wrote about my happiness experiment. I also wrote about how I thought that the key to happiness was in carefully choosing your reactions. But now I’ve come to realize how foolish that is and I’ve given it up.
Why? Because “happiness” is a noun. A thing. A thing that can be lost or found. And I now realize that I don’t want to have happiness, I want to be happy.
The difference isn’t just semantics or word games. It makes a real difference in your life whether you are chasing some elusive state of mind or actually embodying a way of being.
So I am going to BE happy.
Correction - I AM HAPPY.
The Power of Mortality™ is about cherishing your life and recognizing it for the “limited time offer” that it truly is. By forcing ourselves to come face-to-face with our own mortality, we come to realize that underneath it all - we are happy to be alive!
Not convinced?
Imagine that you were drowning and someone pulled your head above the water so that you could breathe fresh air. In that moment you would understand just how happy you are to be alive. So the next time you are having trouble finding happiness, I invite you to hold your breath. And keep holding it. Hold it … … … until you remember that you’re happy to be alive.
Happiness is being.
Everything else is a story that we’ve added on to make things more complicated.
I’ve given up the story.
ENJOY NOW!
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I’ve been seriously holding my breath after I had read only the part where you said that you would give up
Thank you for this insight into your state of mind that you’re giving us here. It’s invaluable, full of energy and I can feel that you’re writing from the heart.
Thank you.
Comment by Tony Meier »
Patrick, sometimes gurus like you end up saying the same thing over and over. I like this change you are making and the freshness with which you are tackling some pidgeon-holed topics. I too was always looking for happiness. Happiness in my work, happiness in the job I had done raising our 3 girls, happiness with the way people see and react to me. What good is all that if I’m not HAPPY myself. One little verb that impacts all of the above. How important are all of the above if I’m not happy. I’m too old to hold my breath for too long so I hope I learn this lesson real quick. Keep up your ” fresh appeal” and we’ll all benefit. Love and friendship this holiday season. Debbie
Comment by Debbie Yantzi (subscribed to comments) »
The phrase, “limited time offer” slammed me like a ton of bricks! I had been acting like I had forever.
Thank you for the awakening.
I am happy. I am happy. I am happy. Damn it, I am happy now!
Comment by Allan Todd »