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Are you really happy? If not, do you know what it would take to make you happy?
My observation is that most of us attribute happiness with safety and security. Don’t you remember when you were in high school? Didn’t it feel good when you were accepted by the “in” crowd? I recall when I made the track team, I felt really happy. The truth was that I was happy not as much for the accomplishment as I was about strutting around school wearing my track jacket and walking around with members of the team. It felt good. I was far from the most socially or academically successful kid in my school. So when I made the team, a newfound confidence came over me and I felt happy. And you might be thinking, “Just leave it be, why analyze it. Happiness is happiness, let it be.”
But I can’t. Why? Because I have come to know that our pursuit of happiness is more about the search for safety and security.
So let’s see how we are often fooled by our pursuit of happiness.
1. Being accepted
Certainly when we are accepted into a group, we have the security offered by the crowd. This security will likely cause us to be happy. Yet, looking at it more closely, we give up much of our autonomy and individuality. Moreover, being accepted into an organization or institution with an elite reputation can feel really good. But if doing so is to establish or maintain bragging rights of superiority, happiness will remain elusive for you.
2. Money
Money provides security because it purchases food, clothing, and shelter—vital ingredients for our safety. But money and the pursuit of it affords something else: the ability to be one-up from the next guy. This appears to provide security, safety, and decreased vulnerability. However, those over whom you are one up will not feel so secure with your wealth and likely look to take it away somehow.
3. Attention
Getting attention, consciously or subconsciously, for attributes commonly associated with success can lead to a sense of confidence, thus security, and hence, happiness. Physical characteristics of beauty or strength are obvious ones. Other attention grabbing security blanket also includes certain jobs that lead to fame and fortune. So when we strive for these things, we think happiness will follow. Yet it often doesn’t. That’s because the attention we seek, often below our level of awareness, is for others to notice we are above them. And no matter how hard we try there will always be a whole host of other competitors.
4. Being the Envy of Others
Similar to the item above, being the envy of others can bring a certain, albeit very sordid, sense of contentment. You may resist thinking that you could possess such emotions, but think about what you would do if you lived (in a very modest house) close to the neighborhood where the CEO of Coca Cola lived. And although you acknowledge that Coca Cola products are among the unhealthiest products, the wealth of the CEO would be hard for you and others not to envy. And, I would guess that most would readily offer up in conversation the fact that they live within such close proximity to a person of such high stature. However, as I wrote above, when the quest is to be the envy of others, therefore sitting on top of the heap, you risk becoming a target (the Germans call it schadenfreude). Internal unhappiness can also come from indulging one’s own entitlement, as the CEO might due.
5. Being In A Relationship
Before you find your soul mate, you must first discover your soul. Too many believe they will be happy when in a relationship with someone else. This is more to relieve loneliness and to protect us than any other reason. True happiness will come when two independent people come together with the only needs they have are the needs to grow and share their lives. When one needs the other for happiness, it becomes what is known as a co-dependent relationship.
6. The Suffering of Others
Certainly this one would be very difficult to admit; just think of the guilt you would feel. But haven’t you heard or uttered yourself these very words, “It could be worse.” Or, “I don’t have it have as bad as....” When we say these words, we are basically saying that the fact that others are worse off than us gives us some degree of security. And isn’t that what I’m talking about here? The place from where most of our happiness arises is a place of security. Knowing that we could be worse off, (like others), gives us some comfort. Now, I realize, some who are reading this are saying to me, “Speak for yourself, buddy. I’m not that selfish or cruel.” But, you see, such emotions come from our primitive nature—our Automatic Brain (AB)—which fires automatically, instantaneously and often generates thoughts, behaviors, and yes, emotions that may be difficult for us, but in a crude, animalistic way afford us security.
7. Less Is More
You have heard it, “Blessed are the poor.” Those who accept a simple life may indeed have found happiness. Yet, if one accepts this life because they fear anything else, then they are committing to the same AB dynamics as the CEO above. This comfort zone may not permit the growth for which your true nature yearns and from which your true happiness arises.