I am a tea enthusiast. Green, black, white, chai; you name it, and it’s probably sitting in my tiny dorm cupboard.
A few months back I stumbled across a brand of tea that, in addition to comforting me through its organic herbal goodness, has shaped my worldview through the inspirational quotes printed on its teabags.
The quote that has struck the deepest chord with me is as follows: “Real happiness lies in that which never comes or goes, but simply is.”
The words caused me to ponder what in life I, as well as others, often appreciate the most. What excites us? What makes us truly happy? What did I long for and work for in my own personal quest for happiness?
For me, a high GPA and a strong, fit body were the objects of my desire most of the time; to me, having these would almost undoubtedly unlock my own endless supply of happiness and contentment. For others, I supposed hitting it off with the person of their dreams, winning the lottery, or discovering the perfect gem of an apartment for next year were some of the most commonly held dreams.
All of the above aspirations share a common aspect: they are not permanent.
If in fact these dreams do come true, they come and go, bringing happiness for a little while, but soon becoming commonplace and unexciting, and perhaps even fading out altogether.
Things in life, both good and bad, come and go. My high GPA would only bring me a blip of satisfaction in the grand scheme of life. I would glance at my grade report, tell my parents, silently celebrate for a bit and then continue to live life as usual.
The fit body I so desire is probably a dream that will be chased forever, as I’m relatively in-shape right now and still not completely satisfied with the progress I’ve made; while matters of health and aesthetics are important, they are not permanent; nor is the status of “perfection” ever really reached.
People, money and living situations all come and go as well.
None of this is to say that the impermanent cannot possibly be a source of joy and happiness; this is incredibly cynical and false.
Rather, it’s meant to illustrate that we as humans, and especially in this Western culture, tend to use goal-oriented indicators to measure our true level of happiness, when we should be striving to be more mindful of the parts of life that will never disappear; the sources of happiness that simply are.
The way spring feels. The rush of excitement when you hear your favorite song being played. The beauty of a sunrise. The smell of freshly cut grass.
The love of your parents. How it feels to laugh.
Some might call these the “little things” in life, but I’d venture to call them the most important things. They are the foundation of true happiness — the things that don’t go away, even when the impermanency of life causes stress and hardship.
At best, striving for particular goals makes us innovative and inspired; at worst, it makes us discontent and dissatisfied.
Through recognizing the positive aspects of life that never go away, we have an emotional and mental buffer against the chaos of the world, a sense of peace and well-being that, when cultivated and cared for, we can be sure will always be there for us.
All it takes is a deep breath, a look around and an appreciation of what simply “is”.
— kabeasle@indiana.edu
