3 Beliefs on Happiness (Part 2)

Yesterday we identified how owing to one wrong belief, we thought that happiness depends on our achievements. Today, let us check two more incorrect happiness beliefs and understand the truth.

𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝟮: 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
Suppose I believe that buying my dream car gives me happiness. I may purchase and own the most expensive car. I have essentially bought physical comfort. While on a long drive in it, I could get one phone call conveying unpleasant news which ruined my happiness. If my car gave happiness, happiness would stay despite the call. Even after the call, my car continues to give physical comfort and my physical body is comfortable. Since happiness is an emotional comfort, it disappeared when I (who is looking for happiness) went into pain after the call. Why do we feel happy when buying a car? Because when we create a thought – I bought my dream car, it generates a feeling of happiness. So, we used an object (car) as a stimulus to create a response (positive thought).

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡: Let us not purchase objects seeking happiness in them. Everything physical is designed to give physical comfort. Happiness is an emotional comfort.

𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝟯: 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 & 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨
Moving between acceptance and expectations, our relationships are getting strained. We focus on what to get from relationships rather than what to give. Our expectations from each other are increasing. We accept people only when they, speak and behave as per our needs. If I equate my happiness to others obeying me, it cannot last. As soon as someone obeys the first time, I give them my next expectation. So, happiness leaves me at this point, only to return if the person obeys again. Otherwise, I get upset. People have their definitions of rights and wrongs, so setting expectations will always spoil relationships and reduce your happiness.

Truth: No one can make us happy or sad. Happiness is our emotion, our internal creation regardless of the quality of our relationships