Where True Happiness can be found

Written by: Khadeja

I have always accepted the fact that happiness–true happiness–cannot be achieved when it is tied to external circumstances. At least I thought I did. I had a goal in my life that I was waiting for, one of those tricky goals that the only work you can do to achieve it is pray. Literally, it was all out of my hands. A part of me subconsciously put my happiness and contentment on hold until further notice. And rather than take a positive outlook towards this goal, I became obsessively attached to it. But life has taught me that the more attached you are to something, the more likely you are to lose it–or derail it.

Slowly, slowly, the realization of my goal started to transpire. But I still wasn’t happy or excited. I kept inching towards it, but my emotional barometer was still on empty. I kept picking at the situation and looking for the flaws that were inevitable, since, after all, nothing can be perfect. I decided to step back and re-evaluate, as I usually do when things just don’t add up in my mind or in my heart.

I was disappointed and frustrated because this wasn’t how it was “supposed” to be. I was walking through life with static theories of how things should be, rather than being more flexible and open to the rainbow of possibilities that existed outside of my black and white thinking. I became angry with myself because my negative mindset was not just impacting me, but also those around me. Then came the light bulb moment. I had realized the mistake I made. I had tied my happiness to a material object and expected stability, when in fact it was as if I had tied myself to a single helium balloon and expected a smooth ride rather than turbulence.

Sometimes you have to go through adversity to fully learn this lesson. I have learned the hard way that the best way to go through life–the only way to go through life–is to fully soak in the moment and just be happy for all that you have in that single moment. Because in one moment there is already so much to be grateful. We are truly blessed.