Finding Happiness – Through my Choices and my Dreams

Finding Happiness – Through my Choices and my Dreams

Lokesh Vashishth

Information Technology Professional

@https://www.twitter.com/l_vashishth

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When I was young, not so long ago, there was a painter, a poet, a singer and an actor in me. And I could have become anyone I wanted to be.

No one in my family stopped me from becoming anything I ever loved and I was fortunate enough to have a supportive family. Yet, today I am not anyone of what I ever thought I was; or, what I thought I ever could be.

Why???

Why could I not become what I had loved to become once upon a time? How come, I continue to work the way I do now? Is there something wrong?

Choices!!!

May be it is my own choice which is driving my life; I do love what I do now and I am proud that I am doing it well. But here’s the catch; many times it is our own choice which keeps us apart from many things which we really love. I could still be a singer, an actor, a painter and live my life happily.

But why am I not doing that?

“I am not what happened to me, I am what I chose to become”……. from the movie,”The pursuit of happiness”   

Illusions!!!

We live in the world of illusions. We think we have enough time, but really we do not have time for the things which matter. I am still waiting for the part of my life which is called “happiness”. May be I have had it before; maybe I am having it right now writing this article. But the illusion of the things which may or may not happen, keeps me far from finding the moment of “happiness”.

“The world is your oyster. It’s up to you to find the pearls”……. from the movie,”The pursuit of happiness”  

Attachments!!!

Oh, I do love money! It keeps me on my toes all the time; consciously, unconsciously! I am struggling and chasing money all the time; yet I love money! So, I wonder, can I really engage in non materialistic pursuits? I have read somewhere it gives us mental peace to pursue our habits other than our regular work. But then, why take chances? Shouldn’t I just keep doing what I do and make more money?

“Maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue. And maybe we can actually never have it no matter what.” ….from the movie,”The pursuit of happiness”  

Unloving!!!

It is very hard to understand why we fail to take stands or chose what makes us happy. It’s been a while since I met with my childhood friend, though he is living in the same city. Will it make me happy to meet him? Of course! Yet, I could not choose to go over to his house or office to meet him even once in the last two years. Are we becoming unloving or do not love enough what and who we already have? Probably/Possibly.

“Probably means there’s a good chance. Possibly means we might or we might not.” …..from the movie,”The pursuit of happiness”  

Non-dreamer!!!

Ever wondered why things get simpler and yet are complicated? We learn to earn, but we unlearn how to live. We learn to finish things, but we unlearn how to start. We learn to forget, but we unlearn how to forgive. We achieve our dreams, but we also learn to become non-dreamers.

“Still a dreamer, yet more of a realist than ever before”…..from the movie,”The pursuit of happiness”

I think I will get my answers from within myself; from the choices meant to make me happy, coming out of illusions, letting go of my attachments, loving and dreaming more. I will, one day, become whatever I can become; and truly be happy forever!

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking, so that other people won’t feel insecure around you”…. from the movie,”Coach Carter”  

Please do leave your comments at the bottom and do share with others if you like this article.

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Neena sondhi
Neena sondhi

U have taken quotes from my absolute favorite movie and woven it so beautifully will treasure and re read your article many times . Just u missed my favorite quote from the journey it is always about the journey……..

Gajendra
Gajendra

One of the lines of your article is the nearest answer, why we have been keep searching of happiness and that is – we learn to earn but we unlearn how to live. Untill we start to investigate on our “SELF” we will land nowhere, searching happiness. Furthermore, we strcitly have to laearn “how to investigate our SELF”. We can’t proceed randomnly on our own. Root cause is our belief that achieving a particular person, place, thing, circumstances, or dream-role would make us happy. Searching happiness in any thiing other than our SELF means that we have thrown our happiness… Read more »

Preeti sharma
Preeti sharma

I really like your blog. Happiness is a state of mind,a mood or a way of living. There is no magical way to make us happy forever but when we understand the nature of happiness,we become more skillfull at staying happier longer. Its my way of finding happiness.
Keep it up awesome writting!

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