The Happiness Hypothesis

I’m reading a book right now called the Happiness Hypothesis and below is an excerpt I came across the other day that made me think…

“Happiness comes from between. Happiness is not something that you can find, acquire or achieve directly. You have to get the conditions right and then wait. Some of those conditions are within you, such as coherence among the parts and levels of your personality. Other conditions require relationships to things beyond you: Just as plants need sun, water and good soil to thrive, people need love, work and a connection to something larger. It is worth striving to get the right relationships between yourself and others, between yourself and your work, and between yourself and something larger than yourself. If you get these relationships right, a sense of meaning and purpose will emerge.”

http://www.happinesshypothesis.com/

Lately, I’ve been working a lot on trying to put things into perspective in my life, on trying to see the ‘silver lining’ in things and just “LET IT BE”. For the most part-it’s working, and I have been able to feel my spirit become more relaxed in situations where I would normally become tense. I feel good about that.

However, one thing I’ve been battling a lot with is the concept of taking this life journey alone. Recently, I’ve had more than one person say to me that if I loved myself enough-losing important people in my life would make no difference to the level of my happiness, because at the end of the day-I’m the only one who can truly determine whether or not I’m happy, or how happy I am. Frankly, I’m just not sure I agree with that. While I agree that self love is extremely important and necessary, I think we are built to have relationships with others, short, long and everlasting. I think we are meant to lean on people during difficult times, and are to be leaned on in the same respect by others. I have always tried to be the person to never shut a door on someone who needs my ear to listen, no matter who or what it is. And I’m a strong believer in the power of human interactions being central to our life on this earth. I mean, how fun would it be to laugh alone, cry alone, dance alone, celebrate alone, sing alone (well that is kinda fun)-but you get my point.

I’ve even been told that I care too much! Is that even possible? I didn’t know it was. But I guess we are meant to love and lose, and love again and keep loving, because to me that’s what makes my world. It isn’t loving myself, but being able to share my love with others that brings me the most happiness.

Just a thought… Comments welcome ;)