Most of us tend to be happier, wealthier and successful and many more in life. However, getting these things all of a sudden is not possible for many of us. So we always struggle to get these things as we have been programmed or conditioned knowingly or unknowingly by someone or ourselves in a way, we can only be happy with the possession of more materialistic things such as a branded car, watches, bigger house, more money. But have you ever thought about how to be happy with what you have now? If yes, it’s good and if you don’t know then don’t worry, I will tell a secret, how to be that.
You must be heard the name of Gautam Buddha who had said, "There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path".
Similarly, the greatest philosopher, Aristotle once said, "Happiness depends upon ourselves".
Whether you agree or not but most of us have been programmed to be happier only when we get that, when our expectations get fulfilled. That’s what I call it conditioning by limited beliefs. As Gautam Buddha said, there is no path to happiness: happiness is the path. It means happiness ought not to be a goal; it should be a means of living so that we should learn an art of living which might lead you constantly to the path of happiness. Happiness is, scientifically, in fact, nothing more than a release of hormones-serotonin and dopamine-from mind. Once these positive hormones start to release, you start feeling good. My question is what if you are in the circumstances that boost the level of serotonin and dopamine, and is there still a chance to be sad? I think no way. So changing the situations that are inextricably linked to the states of mind can change your mood of being happy and sad. However, we should be able to learn that, we should be aware of it. That’s why Aristotle once said that happiness depends upon ourselves.
"The secret of happiness, you see is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less" — Socrates
"The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not" — Seneca
As Socrates said, happiness is not found in seeking more but it is found in learning or building the ability to enjoy with less. In addition to this, Seneca emphasized that only fool people do regrets with what they don’t have, a wise man does just opposite to that. Some people might wonder by thinking that if people had satisfied with the things they had, the world would have not so advanced or developed. Yeah, I also agree with that. It cannot be denied that behind every success, there is a painful journey attached to it. By the way, that’s an effort, not the pain. There is a difference between getting tortured and being productive. Only productive people are likely to get what they want in life. Others’ wishes will remain wishes forever.
The most wonderful thing of life is free like an air. The problem is we do not notice it, we do not recognize it, and we do not build our habit to look in this way. Smile or laughing does not need money to buy. Like this, happiness is also free. You might be thinking, I also want to be happy but how can I do that. It’s very simple. It’s possible with “Wow mindset”. In order to get it easily, I would like to present some examples so please think about it.
ü Bop, one of my friends, feel so excited and quite happy when we decide to play a card. Why?
ü Today is the world cup final so everyone is excited to watch it. Why?
ü Some people from Nepal who just got a visa for further study in Austraila or UK or the USA seem very happy and content why?
ü After watching a good love story movie, why I start to feel good?
ü Today’s my uncle birthday, why so my relatives are excited to celebrate it and feel happy?
ü A boy just made a girlfriend and quite happier than ever before. Why?
ü Yesterday you passed your exam with a distinction why you so happy and are going to give a party?
The list of examples goes on and on. However, the most common thing in all of the examples above is “Wow mindset” or “wow thinking” or “wow attitude” to these events, people and objects. When we think “wow” within our mind, it starts to release some positive hormones called serotonin and dopamine. As a result, we start feeling happy. In this way, when all people start to think “wow” towards anything, object, people, or events then their happiness is also multiplied and the overall environment becomes productive. But all this is possible with ‘wow mindset’ so we should build our habit to live the life in this way. Live with the resources we have now and just feel good about it, and move forward with it. However, do not complain anything, or blame anyone since as we do this, the level of serotonin and dopamine will be reduced and it hampers your mood, it hampers your mind, it hampers your life. Lastly, what I want to tell is that whatever said are just words or thoughts but get most out of your life, you just need to apply in your life and see what’s going to happen.