Happiness can be found here and now

By Anne Mukei

A happy being he is. He is always jumping up and down, with a grin on his face. I cannot count the number of times he laughs out loud in a day. When he sees me wearing a long face, he will be quick to ask whether I am happy. That is my little boy, whose only tragedy occurs when his toy cars are broken.

But aren’t we all like this at one point in our lives, before we become older and face the ‘harsh realities’ that life presents us with? Interestingly, even those who seem to have the very best that life has to offer appear less happy with time, and will find something to whine about.

That gorgeous woman in that magnificent car will somehow have something to moan about. That successful man with millions in the bank and a lovely wife and children will find something to complain about. And that teenager with confidence and looks to boot will still find life unfair.

ABUNDANCE

Last Sunday, I read Shamlal Puri’s article in this magazine, and it said a global survey had rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia, and eighth happiest in the world. Though the research was conducted eight years ago, I am sure the findings remain relevant.

From the piece, I learned that Bhutan is the only country where Gross National Happiness is measured officially, and facilities provided to maintain contentment. Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, is the only modern capital city in the world with no traffic lights. Its people still revere their traditional culture.

I imagine their very existence is inflated with what a friend calls ‘happy hormones’. That every waking moment is filled with bouts of joy, peace and gratitude. I imagine that their stress levels are minimal; that they have enough in their kitchens. That they are in touch with nature, and that this boosts their health, both mental and physical.

So, are there any rules of happiness? Motivational speaker and writer Denis Waitley says that happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. He adds that happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Even though there may be thousands of philosophies on attaining happiness and maintaining it, the fact is that abundance exists right now, and not in the next minute or tomorrow.

Of course, it takes a wise soul to truly appreciate that happiness can be found in even the saddest of situations. That you need not do anything to achieve happiness; all you need is to be. For it is difficult to realise happiness when we are always striving to get more of what we already have.

How about experiencing the thrill of happiness today, by appreciating what you have now?