At the very Beginning, I would clearly state, that, Happiness is Relative, if not always, then... Most of the time... Now, what do I really mean, when I say Relative Happiness...??? Let me give you a clear picture by citing an example... I was in 5th Grade of my school... One day, I saw, my class-mate using a very fancy Pencil-box... I went home I asked my Mother to buy me the same kind of Pencil Box. Not Because I needed one, but because one of my class-mates had it... and after seeing that I wanted one too. Now That is what you call a Relative Happiness... As I grew up, I started seeing a Larger Picture of Relative Happiness... When I went to college, I saw my college-mate buying the same bag (that I bought just few days ago) from the same shop, because she wanted something like what I bought for my self... When I started working, I saw a BIG example of Relative Happiness... I saw one of my colleagues asking for a Raise from her Boss, not because she thought that she deserved it, but because, the other employee, who was on the same post as of her, was getting more than her... Now that is what we call the Extremes of Relative Happiness...
So the Big Question that still remains unanswered is Why Is Happiness; Relative? I believe that it is based on one Postulate- i.e. Happiness results from Comparisons... And then with Happiness comes, Contentment... When your need is fulfilled then there is Happiness... But when you compare your Quality of Life with someone and if satisfied, that gives you contentment... Relative Happiness is the evil which evokes your negative side... It leads you to compare your needs with some XYZ... and then force you to find Happiness in other person's needs and desires...
Why cant we just be happy with what we have and desire for what We really want to have in our Wishlist...? That is something we really need to see within ourselves... What are we really looking for...? Happiness and Contentment from within or Relative Happiness...?
agree to your point
ReplyDeletehappiness is relative...only when you are not withdrawn from basic hapiness in life...a woman who cannot bear children doesnt want a baby because its relative happiness......neither does a woman who wants her husband back from a whore house or a man who is looking for a job...sitting back at home and doesnt even have morsel of food....relativity perishes in front of basic needs....
one's budding thirst to buy a particular pencilbox or bag is there only because at the back of one's mind there is psycological contentment...of ability to somehow afford whats desired....
and when there is fight for getting back what is your own ....you stop falling in trap for relative happiness
Tanu very happy to see and read your blog .. your first thought just reflects how beautiful you are .. Happiness is relative, yes .. for those who look for happiness outside .. for those whose goals in life are set in comparison to others .. for those who need externalities as triger to keep them happy .. tanu few years ago i met an old wise man, he was very happy, i asked him why .... you know what he said .. he said i like myself, he said i like this Sun shine and i like this air we breathe in, he said i like these flowers, he said i like everything God has created, and then he said I like what He has given us and this gives me happiness..HE COULD RELATE TO HAPPINESS(WHICH IS WITHIN) AND WAS NOT LOOKING FOR RELATIVE HAPPINESS.. OM SAI RAM ..
ReplyDeleteYes,Happiness for most is relative.But once man learns to be self satisfied .. once he learns to derive satisfaction in giving n sharing.. this relativity disappears. Then there are less reasons to be unhappy n more to be happy. As wisdom & level of spirituality grows the competitive & possessive instinct gives place to the immortal satisfaction n inner happiness of soul. Lesser we feel entangled to worldly desires, more we can be happy. Key to happiness is in being contented in what we are, where we are n what we possess.Only thing we need to do is constantly try to increase our spirituality level. we should learn the most that comes to our way in life's journey.
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