„If only we’d stop trying to be happy we’d have a pretty good time.“
Edith Wharton
This topic is quite a controversial and also philosophical one. Let´s be honest here: we can´t guide you to fundamental happiness. There´s no neat trick that works for everyone. If so it would be a more peaceful and relaxed world. What we want to do is make you think. Because even if you´re totally against everything we will write down here: thinking about it may bring you a step further to your version of happiness. So join us on this ride!
While being happy might be the ultimate goal and achievement of everyone’s life, achieving true happiness is not that simple. The term Happiness can be divided into basically two types. The first is a short term, nearly ecstatic rush of Happiness. This Happiness-rush is quite a cruel creature – once you were able to capture a glimpse of it, it is gone already again. So would it be recommended at all, to chase the illusion of a life that consists only out of happy moments?
„Gotta have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come.“
Bob Ross
The second happiness type is the long term, inner peaceful and lasting happiness. This is the sustainable type of happiness. While the ecstatic happiness rushes are what spice up life, the fundamental happiness is the one that makes you feel satisfied. The one that lets you feel relaxed, being balanced and in peace with yourself.
Life can be exhausting, boring and full of dickhe… ahem, people that are hard to get along with. But life can also be full of joy, fun and full of nice and great people. You are the one that defines your very own life. And yes, this is a hell of a task. Most likely the most important and hardest task you ever signed yourself up for.
So, we thought we could try to help you get this task done in the best way possible by offering you three questions that you can ask yourself in order to align your course to destination Happiness.
What are you working for?
Might it be solely to be able to pursue a luxury lifestyle, three times extravagant holidays a year, a sports car that goes from 0 to 100 in a blink of an eye? Or, might it to be able to provide a good life for your family. Or, doing your part in changing the world with your very own everyday science – hopefully to the better.
Those aims are extremely diverse and your very own. They will also change often in life – but being aware for what YOU are working so hard for whatever it might be will help you to keep being motivated. And you then also know, what you really WANT to spend your money on. And please, don´t feel sad because you feel like the lifestyle you pursued 10 years ago was wasteful – it was the lifestyle you wanted to live and that brought you (hopefully) joy those days.
What are you passionate about?
Being passionate about what you´re doing is one of the most crucial things when it comes down to joyfulness and in the greater scheme happiness. If you´re passionate about what you´re doing, then you like to work, the work is done easily and furthermore – it does not even feel like work.
However, it´s not obligatory to be passionate about your work. If you´re passionate about beer, coffee or deliciousness in general – be passionate! If you´re passionate about motorsports, skiing or any other sport – be passionate! If you´re passionate about video games and/or eSports – be passionate! If you´re passionate about arts, painting, sculpting or craftsmanship – be passionate! Especially hobbies are there to bring joy – and not necessarily meant to generate any income. Passion is the spark that lit the fire in your heart for a specific topic – and is also keeping it burning!
Why do I chase Happiness?
Although this sounds controversial: happiness is, most of the time, only short-lasting – those rushes we talked about earlier. Happiness is what you feel when you had a good experiment, got compliments, won some poster prize or won a game of Monopoly. Chasing this kind of happiness means, only wins, only great results and only external love from other people will count – and they´re hard to get. And if those don´t happen, you´re starting to feel unhappy until you get a glimpse of it again. You can´t really chase happiness.
The key, in our opinion, is to chase joy. You can feel joyful for doing a good job for yourself. You can feel joyful while playing the game – although you might not win it. You can feel joyful in appreciation that you were invited to speak to a broad audience that are all experts in their fields. And you will feel joyful by doing something you´re passionate about. You will feel joyful treating yourself with something from your bucket or wish list. You might feel joyful if you enjoy a beautiful sunset with a beautiful cup of coffee in your hands. Go and enjoy.
Go and chase joy instead of happiness. Because that way, fundamental happiness will be your most loyal companion.
This mail is also the last one of our Mental Health Awareness Month mail series. We honestly hope it lit a spark of thought on this important topic. And that you and your mental health benefit from it.
Remember: You Are Not Alone!
All the best!
Your local Helmholtz Juniors: Marlene Härtel , Ivona Kafedjiska
And Doctoral Representatives: Radu Bors, Markus Schleuning, Patrick Schnell, Jennifer Velázquez Rojas, Ke Xu, Ivona Kafedjiska, Marlene Härtel
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