Is happiness achievable?

As I was browsing through a monthly magazine focused on cultural and intellectual topics, one article caught my attention: "8 Ways to Become Happy."

After finishing the reading, I was quite surprised to discover that the author referenced philosopher Bertrand Russell's writings. What amazed me even more was that although I had read extensively from Russell, I hadn't realized he also wrote about happiness in a book titled "The Conquest of Happiness. "

Without much delay, I searched online for an electronic copy of the book, read it, and learned a vital lesson:

Expand your interests as much as you can and nurture friendly reactions towards the things and people that are important to you.

Perhaps this lesson answers the question posed in today's article, and there's no need to add anything else? Not quite.

The truth is, we're only at the initial station in addressing the question. While the idea of expanding interests and mastering the art of friendly reactions seems fantastic and can keep happiness achievable in individuals' lives, not everything clear necessarily means it's easy to learn in our world today...

Therefore, I'll build upon what Russell concluded and pose further questions: How can we broaden the scope of our interests? And how can our reactions become as friendly as possible?

In my view, providing clear answers to these questions will make Bertrand's lesson more realistic.

How can we broaden the scope of our interests?

What does "interest" mean exactly? Is it when we really like something, or when we love it, or when we're really curious about it?

To me, interest is like a feeling inside us that makes us want to know more about something or someone. It's like a little push that makes us want to do things, like learn new things, go places, or talk to people. It's a good feeling, usually.

I think Russell, too, saw interest in this simple way. He thought it was important for us to keep being interested in things, to pay attention to that feeling, and to keep wanting to learn and do more. Because, in the end, it shows who we really are (...)

How can our reactions become as friendly as possible?

The word "friendliness" is all about showing love freely and fairly. Being friendly means you've learned that some of your feelings don't have to change because of what's happening around you. Like when you're mad, betrayed, lied to, or treated unfairly. These things can make us tense and sometimes even mean. It's just part of being human. But according to Russell, real happiness can't come until you break free from these natural reactions. And that's where learning to be friendly comes in.

Now, you might wonder: How do we learn to be friendly? Well, just by asking that question, you've taken the first step towards happiness.

It's about realizing what the real issues are. To be friendlier, we need to understand why we react the way we do. Most of the time, we feel bad when we're doing things we don't like.

So, being friendly starts with being kind to yourself. Do things you enjoy and get even more interested in them. As you gain experience, you'll find a better balance and become tougher.

Happiness won't be something you chase outside yourself anymore. When you stop expecting others to make you happy, you'll naturally be friendlier toward them. And when you truly understand what matters to you, nothing outside can shake your peace.

Last word

So, what do you think? Is happiness achievable? I anticipate that you will respond affirmatively!

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