Get inspired: Your happiness depends on you

In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon tries to define what comprises life. He talks about the timing of everything the earth. In Ecclesiastes 3: 4, Solomon says, “In life, there is a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” The fact that we can’t escape difficult and challenging times in life we also need to find ways of living happily. Happiness is one’s choice. If we want to be happy, we should cease focusing on the dark side of life. Helen Keller said that when one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. There are different ways people pursue happiness. However, Aldous Huxley believes that happiness is not achieved by the conscious pursuit of happiness; it is generally the by-product of other activities. Like King Solomon thought, man-kind still believes that happiness comes from acquisition of wealth, eating, partying and drinking all sorts of wines and soft drinks. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says that without God life is meaningless and full of misery. “It is like chasing the wind.” Happiness is a fulfillment brought about by certain activities that a person delights in. Happiness does not reside in possessions; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul. As I started before, the only person to give you happiness is you. You know what makes you happy and have a peace of mind. John Stuart Mills says that he has learned to seek his happiness by limiting his desires rather than attempting to satisfy them. Just look inside you and you will find your source of joy. E-mail: gachakim@yahoo.com