When will I be happy?

This question left me wondering since the time I first heard it last month. Such a simple question yet so intriguing.

I was recommended by a couple of friends to attend the ‘Happiness Program’ held by the Art of Living. After months of contemplation and a free weekend, I enrolled myself for the same. Meditation and kriya aspect was undoubtedly amazing. But besides this, there were a couple of questions which would help all participants introspect. We were given a homework in which we were to answer several questions. These two questions left me wondering for a lot of time. They were:

What will make you happy?

When will you be happy?

This was an eye opening exercise for me. It’s an obvious fact, everyone strives to be happy. Then why was it so hard for me to answer precisely what it would take to reach that space. Our goals, accomplishments, friends, companionship, food, clothes etc make us happy, but sadly not for a very long period of time. We experience this phase until a next goal shows up and is completed, and the cycle continues.

When I began to answer the question I listed things/incidences which would bring me happiness. It could be categorized into long and short term goals. For most of us, that’s how it will be. While discussing the answers I realized no participant had stated that they were already happy. This doesn’t imply that that’s the only correct answer but it did imply that we should at least strive for such a state. It’s a strange paradox that we perpetually want to be happy but do things which bring us only temporary happiness. Why is it that time limit and duration that we allow ourselves to be happy is so small and conditional. I still wonder.

This question besides its spiritual benefits has helped me find direction in a lot of circumstances daily as well.

How? Whenever I find myself in a negative/ upset state of mind, I ask myself these question. Sometimes I realize it’s as simple as eating (because I skipped a meal), taking a walk or talking to a friend. It made me realize the power we possess to change the state of our mind and by providing it with a sense of direction. What’s challenging is to realize that we need a change. Practicing yoga and meditation has definitely made me better at figuring out the source of the emotion & trigger point. My realization is that I need to disassociate this state of happiness from the outcome of any of my goals. Definitely, it’s easier said than done but just this understanding has helped me be a lot more in the present and calmer.

It’s time for you to introspect and share your experience with all of us:

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY?

WHEN WILL YOU BE HAPPY?