Everyone has a different response to this question. But there are also quite a few that collate with similar answers, like having enough money, quitting the job and focus on hobbies, living somewhere exotic, focusing on family only, and traveling the world. There’s nothing wrong with any of those answers, but there are also a fair few that might say that the objective of saving people or animals over their own wants is inevitably their ultimate happiness. While that’s brilliant, inspiring and quite challenging, it’s not the honest answer of the majority of the world. Truth is, the world is selfish. The whole point of this post is to make you think... not to feel bad. Because if you think about the actual true answer to your ultimate happiness, you may surprise yourself by realizing how selfish you are as well. However, the catalyst is when the good in you begins to override the temptations of selfishness within you.
Ponder on the idea, what if you received everything you would ever need and want, and every resource and every moment on this earth is completely free to you, to use however you please. Would you begin to think of all of the things you could do and the places you could see? Do you think this would keep you happy forever? Or do you feel as though helping others is your ultimate objective in life? If so, then there may very well be hope for this world after all.
This morning I began to think that if I could have my way about anything and everything that I please, and have the ability to mold my current existence, my future and the influence that I have during my time here. As you might guess, the first thoughts that crept up were all about me and my own agenda. But a few moments after my glorious dreamscape of selfish fantasy, the inner-drive of wanting to do good overcame me and I started to think what I would do if I had the means to change the lives of so many much needier than myself. After quite a bit of thought while laying in bed this morning, I came to the conclusion that all I need to be happy is the chance to put forth effort to make a true difference – although, having the resources to make a much larger difference will always be welcome. Lord knows that all the effort in the world can only go so far, without proper resources. So, if working hard for the rest of my life meant that I would be living in a tiny shack somewhere, unknown, alone, yet all of my work paid off into completely changing other people’s lives, then that’s all I really need.
The truth is that no one in the world will have everything they could need and want, so the point is to connect with your inner good and make what effort you can – now, and so forth. For reaching for your inner good is about making peace with your ego, realizing what’s most important, and accepting the humbling of yourself, which therefore connects you with your ultimate happiness.
(Photo by Trey Ratcliff)
This morning I began to think that if I could have my way about anything and everything that I please, and have the ability to mold my current existence, my future and the influence that I have during my time here. As you might guess, the first thoughts that crept up were all about me and my own agenda. But a few moments after my glorious dreamscape of selfish fantasy, the inner-drive of wanting to do good overcame me and I started to think what I would do if I had the means to change the lives of so many much needier than myself. After quite a bit of thought while laying in bed this morning, I came to the conclusion that all I need to be happy is the chance to put forth effort to make a true difference – although, having the resources to make a much larger difference will always be welcome. Lord knows that all the effort in the world can only go so far, without proper resources. So, if working hard for the rest of my life meant that I would be living in a tiny shack somewhere, unknown, alone, yet all of my work paid off into completely changing other people’s lives, then that’s all I really need.
The truth is that no one in the world will have everything they could need and want, so the point is to connect with your inner good and make what effort you can – now, and so forth. For reaching for your inner good is about making peace with your ego, realizing what’s most important, and accepting the humbling of yourself, which therefore connects you with your ultimate happiness.
(Photo by Trey Ratcliff)
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