“Be
Happy...But Never Satisfied!”
Happiness.
It seems like a pretty easy thing to define, but it might surprise you to
know that philosophers, psychologists, and scientists have been trying for
years to figure out what, exactly, defines being happy. Of course, we all
know happy when we find it. Spending time with someone you love makes you
happy. Winning the big game makes you happy. Being happy is a great
feeling and we all, of course, want to be happy in our lives. As Buddhist
teacher Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, “happiness is available. Please
help yourself to it.”
As
important as happiness is, it is very important to never be satisfied. Often,
people confuse happiness with satisfaction. It is great to be happy, but
happiness should never lead to complacency. Just because you’re happy with
things as they are, don’t ever be satisfied, Don’t stop working towards a
goal because you are happy. Keep going until you reach that goal. By doing
so, you create a virtuous cycle in your life of striving for excellence
and realizing happiness.
Let’s
think about this from a student’s perspective. Let’s say you wish to improve
your grades in math. Maybe you get a tutor and study extra and you finally
get your first B on an exam. You should definitely be happy! But, once the
initial joy has passed, recognize the next step. Aim for an A on the next
exam.
Or
maybe you are trying to lose weight. Let’s say your goal is to lose 15 pounds.
Celebrate each and every pound lost. Celebrate after every workout you’ve
struggled through and completed. You have earned the right to be happy
with your progress. Be happy with what you’ve achieved with each pound
lost and workout completed, but always focus on what you have left to do
to reach your goal.
