Some of the related questions which come to my mind are:
- Why is it that we run after that 5% that we do not have instead of enjoying the 95% that we have?
- Why is the grass always greener on the other side?
- Is more of what we want the right answer?
- Are we measuring our satisfaction based on our desires or our needs?
- Why do we always say that if I have more clothes, more money, better car, bigger house, 1 million $$ in the bank - I will be happy.
The problem is that we keep running at 100 miles/hour because everyone else is doing so. We think if we don't keep up with this pace we will not be able to survive in this world. There is nothing wrong in running at that speed every single minute of your life but the question is how long can you keep doing that? One day your body will give up. Wouldn't it be better to take a break and stop for a moment and think what is really important to you?
Jobs will come and go. No matter how important you think you are in the place you work, nobody and I mean nobody is indefensible. It won't take long for your company to find a replacement for you if you weren't there. Does that make you feel happy or sad?
What really matters to you?
- Your health
- Your family, your wife, your kids
- The happy time you spend with your loved one
- Your friends
- How well so you manage stress?
I once read a great post "Stress" which goes something like this
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "how heavy is this glass of water? " Answers called out ranged from 8oz. to 20oz.
The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance." In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. " As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can."
"Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!"
Here is another such great post about happiness :
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"
You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.
What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!
We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."
i liked the story about the burnt biscuits.
ReplyDeletei wish all the men were like that husband
if human being got contented with what he had or what he got progress and development will stop then and there only.
it is the greed for more, to have more, to know more, to acquire more, to be one up on another which motivates men to go on and on and progress,make new inventions, discoveries.
Milan,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog about arranged marriages vs love marriages, and also perspectives on happiness.
A Google Alert on "Bikram Choudhury" brought me to your blog based on your crediting him with a quote. I practice Bikram Yoga.
I am age 66 and a product of the U.S. cultural perspective on marriage and relationships but am openly interested in all views. Neither is right or wrong, they are just different.
Lee
Thanks Lee.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear comments from another Bikram's followers. I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for past 3-4 years.
Cheers
Milan