Hot on the Trail of Happiness

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” -Socrates

What do you need in your life to be happy? That is a question you can ask all 7.8 billion people and get 7.8 billion answers. Some would give you a deep dive into the nature of happiness. Others would place their answers somewhere in wealth and fame. A few would stare at you before loudly crying, which is why you shouldn’t ask life questions to young children.

The Difficult Nature of Finding Happiness

I’m not an influencer, nor am I some guru with all the answers. Honestly, I hope I never become either of those things. Who I am, is a guy who found a way to be happy in his own life, and I want to share my journey with the world. Let them see the best and worst parts of it, and hope it helps them on their journey. Because in the modern-day, it can be difficult to be happy.

What makes it so difficult to be completely happy?

• We let others tell us what we need to be happy: I mentioned influencers and gurus earlier. People who claim to have all the answers and tell you what you need to be successful. A few do generally want to help others. Many of them have a product to sell. When it comes to finding what makes you happy, decide what it is for yourself. Don’t let others tell you the formula for being happy, because what works for them might not work for you.
• We compare our lives to others: When you get on Instagram, you’re going to find people living a better life than you are. It can be easy to feel like you haven’t made it because you don’t own a fancy car or a big house. Here’s the thing though, I’ve seen the behind the scenes of that life. I photographed someone in front of a $1,000 a night hotel. They took the photo and posted it so people would think they stayed at that hotel. People post the life they want online. It is, at best, a cloudy mirror of their actual life.
• We let material items be a factor in our happiness: “There’s no question that what it means to have achieved the American dream has increased tremendously in material terms”-Juliet Schor. I remember being excited when I got the iPhone 7. It was the newest iPhone out, and I could afford it (on credit). The excitement felt amazing for two days. On the third day of ownership, it was just another iPhone. Most of the items I own have had the same effect. They might stay exciting for longer or shorter, but ultimately they stop being new. Add the fact that an estimated 78 million people bought the iPhone 7, it wasn’t even impressive to own one. Finding joy in material items is a quick high more than it is consistent happiness.
• Advertisements make us feel like we never have enough: Two common emotions advertising and marketing use are fear and greed. The idea that if I don’t get it, I’ll regret it, and if I do get it, I’ll be rewarded for it. With markets trying to reach millions across the globe while working off 52 seasons a year, they need you to be insecure. It is important that you feel their product will make you happy in some way. To create an artificial hole that you can only fill with what they are selling. To illustrate this idea, in a 30-year study*, it was found that the higher the ad spend in a country, the unhappier the citizens of that county were.

These are not the only sources making happiness difficult. They are four major ones you’re likely to encounter. For a time, I encountered each of these multiple times. Especially the one about advertisements. Did you know it’s estimated that we see 5,000 ads every single day?

If you’re on the path to a happier life, see if these things are holding you back. Understand how they affect you and how to work with them and around them. Don’t simply ignore them. The truth is, you can’t ignore them, because there will always be people trying to convince you they have all the answers. There will always be companies finding new ways to put ads in your way. Once you become aware of them you get to decide the impact they have on your life. Maybe I’ll write an article on that someday.

Until then, thanks for reading.