Happiness Is Overrated...

Yessir, you read that correctly. I think happiness is overrated. Even though I have preached about knowing what makes you happy and finding the things you deserve. So why am I being contractionary?

I had a random thought, as one normally does, as to how we often don't associate happiness with peace. People will chase money, relationships (well the idea of one), sex, drugs, fame, and even approval as a means of happiness. Do you want to guess the punch line? All that chasing of happiness, yet there's always something left unfilled.

Peace.

We'll hear about a celebrity, with more money than you could ever earn in five lifetimes, go from rehab, to even taking their own lives. We as common peasants look at their riches and wealthy lifestyles and think, how can they not be happy? I use celebrities as an example because everyone with the internet and access to gossip forums seem to think they have valid inputs into a public figure's life. Sweetie, they have managers, lawyers and representatives for that. As Jhene Aiko said, it's none of your concern. Focus on your own life.

Anyways, overrated doesn't mean it's not rated, it just means there is too much value on it.

Happiness is overrated, find your peace.

A lot of things can bring us happiness, but not everything brings us peace. Whenever we get sad, or seem down, whatever the reason that caused it, people always advise us to cheer up. Literally. We tend to solve most of our problems with distractions to cheer ourselves up. Your relationship just ended? Let's find you something to help you cheer up. (I'm not saying we don't need to do that but for the necessity of bringing my point across). We have something that upsets us, our automatic solution is to do the opposite, be happy. We'll binge on food, or alcohol, perhaps sex, or finding some sort of validation to feel good about ourselves. After all, that's what makes us happy right? That boost in serotonin is addictive.

I always say, being happy is what is most important, but I've changed my mind (because I can -it's called growth). I can't even believe the criticism you may or may not be making. Anyways...

Finding your peace is most important. When you find your peace, happiness will seem to be in abundance. That's not to say that everything will be splendid, it won't. I don't know who told you that, but it will certainly make things a little bit more breathable.

Life will take its course and we can only act on life by our actions. I always say every action has a reaction. There is no perfect way to live and handle life.

Most times, we look for help to solve a problem - so that the problem goes away (obviously). Life doesn't go away, only you. So much of the time we look to the world to solve our problems, by that, I mean, anything man-made. (Except for me, I was God-made, limited edition). Sure there are lots of temporary fixes, but they are not long term.

Relying on the world to fix your problems is like being lost in a desert. You are thirsty for water but you would rather eat the dirt because you are hungry also. You give in to other needs because the solutions available to you will be a quick fix. The dirt doesn't give you any nutrition but the illusion of eating it will satisfy your hunger but worsen your thirst. It's almost a loop. Do you die of thirst or hunger? Now say you dig into the dirt with what little energy you have left, you dig past the dirt and find some water. It would have been hard work, but that source of water will last you longer than the dirt that would have killed you slowly. Look at wells. Wells are made by digging through the dirt to a source of water that lasts a lifetime. Sometimes it takes going beyond earthly measures and digging deeper into oneself to find our inner peace. Sometimes our peace gets traumatised, tainted, dirty and corrupted that it becomes unrecognisable, buried so deep, covered with filth and therefore forgotten.

For some, their lack of peace of mind feels like the buzz of a fly, zipping in and out while you are trying to sleep. In the moment of quiet, everything is calm, until the high pitched buzz causes chaos out of annoyance. Both the presence of the fly and the noise it makes are problematic, right? Wrong. The fly can be in the room and you wouldn't notice. It's only until it creates noise, or starts to land on you, or your food, or drink etc, (you get the point). We love to ignore our problems or triggers for as long as we can. If we don't see it, hear it, feel it, acknowledge it, there appears to be no problem. We can go about our businesses and lives pretending everything is fine until something upsets or triggers that balance you tried so hard to ignore.

You can fill your life with everything that would make you happy, but all that goodness could come crumbling down if there is no peace. Finding peace doesn't have to be about getting rid of the things that disrupt your peace. Obtaining peace is about acknowledging, realising where you stand with it, and finding out how you can live with it. A lot of the time we find ourselves trying to get rid of things, but the truth is, the impact they imprinted in us doesn't go away. I don't know what traumatised, tainted, or corrupted your peace, so there is no one answer on how you can acknowledge and live with it. However, the first step we can take is asking ourselves, is my mind at peace?

Welcome to series two, on living unapologetically during self-growth. (I haven't come with an aesthetic name yet, unfortunately)

To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the spirit results in life and peace. Romans 8:6 GNB

To Recap:

• We often don't associate happiness with peace

• Chasing happiness indicates that there is something left unfulfilled

• A lot of things can bring us happiness, but not everything brings us peace

• Life will take its course and we can only act on life by our actions

• There is no perfect way to live and handle life

• Sometimes it takes going beyond earthly measures and digging deeper into oneself to find our inner peace

• Sometimes our peace gets traumatised, tainted, dirty and corrupted that it becomes unrecognisable, buried so deep, covered in filthy and therefor forgotten

• We love to ignore our problems or triggers for as long as we can. If we don't see it, hear it, feel it, acknowledge it, there appears to be no problem. We can go about our businesses and lives pretending everything is fine until something upsets or triggers that balance you tried so hard to ignore

• You can fill your life with everything that would make you happy, but all that goodness could come crumbling down if there is no peace

• Obtaining peace is about acknowledging, realising where you stand with it, and finding out how you can live with it