Beyond the Punch: Finding Joy in Life’s Journey, Not Just the Victory

Life Lesson from a Japanese Manga: One Punch Men

Throwing a Serious One Punch: Happiness Truly Defines Success

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As a Japanese Manga Fan, I like the new series “One Punch Men”. It is a comic story about heroes battling with Monsters to save the world. The main character, who later becomes the strongest hero of all, was an ordinary person in the beginning.

To change himself and become a superhero as a “Hobby”. Being weak, he started his training every single day for a year and a half.

1. 100 sit-ups
2. 100 squats
3. 10 KM run

He eventually became very strong. In return, he lost all his hair during the training process ironically. More ironic parts began after he became stronger. Maybe he came way too strong, there was no match for him at all. No opponent would survive his single punch, giving him the title of “One Punch Men”.

Everything for him became a boring thing. The hobby of being the “Superhero” that he used to love also became mundane and he lost his joy in life. He now dreams of having a proper fight and worthy opponent who can withstand his one punch and give meaning to his act of being a “Hero”.

Shouldn’t he be happy already to achieve his goal? What would have caused his life to be less meaningful and unhappy about who he is and what he has? Why was the success not happiness in his case?

Before we find the hidden reasons behind it, let’s have a look at a famous TED talk by AiR “Success is not Happiness, Happiness is success.”

If you want to save your time and just enjoy the essence of the video, you can feel free to take a look at my summary.

The speaker AiR shares the misconception that success is happiness.

In the TEDx talk by AiR, titled “Success is not Happiness, Happiness is success,” he talks about these main ideas:

1. Personal Experience: AiR spent 25 years trying to find happiness by being successful, like making more money or achieving goals. But he learned that being successful doesn’t always mean you’re happy.
2. Musk Deer Story: He tells a story about a musk deer that keeps searching for a nice smell. The deer don’t know the smell comes from itself. This is like people looking for happiness in the wrong places.
3. Success and Happiness: Many of us believe that we will become happy once we achievesuccess. However, many people end up being miserable even after achieving their success, not feeling the joy or happiness of life.
4. Looking for Happiness: From when we are young, we are told to try to be the best, like getting top grades or being a team captain. But AiR asks if this really makes us happy.
5. Chasing Success: He talks about how even rich and famous people can be unhappy. This shows that money and fame don’t always bring happiness.
6. True Happiness: AiR explains that happiness is not about things, places, or people. Instead of merely chasing goals for the future, happiness is more about finding joy in the present moment.
7. Being Happy is a Choice: We can decide to be happy right now, instead of always chasing it for later.

This speech really encourages everyone to think about what truly makes us happy and asks us to focus on that.

1. The Analogy of the Game with Life

You would have this experience for sure if you were a gamer before or even now. Once you ever managed to clear some game or reach to maximum level, and there are no more contents to clear.

All the quests and enemies that were new and exciting before now become very boring since you have overcome them and already know what it is going to be like. There is no more new surprise or excitement that you had before.

Then you realize, it was more fun during the process of clearing the game and leveling up your character and your skills. There are frustrations of course, but it’s joyful to see yourself getting stronger gradually as you clear through tough obstacles.

Let’s try to reflect on it and apply it to our life.

Everyone feels that only the outcome or result will make them happy. Many people will imagine themselves to be happy only if they have attained the following:

• After you buy a luxury car that you always dreamed of?
• Once you get your own house and pay off the full mortgage?
• Once you get married?
• Once your children go to college and university?
• Once your children get married?
• Once you reach 100,000 followers on Medium?
• Once you are finally in heaven?

A common observation I see with this kind of mindset is that we are postponing our happiness and we are assuming that only results bring us joy in life. I am not denying the fact that successful results and accomplishments will bring us joy. I am saying that there is happiness and joy in the process itself as well.

2. The Analogy of the Being Medium Writer

Let’s apply this to the case of a Medium writer who started his new Journey as a writer.

Now I am feeling full joy in writing as well as the process of seeing a gradual and steady increase in followers. I do enjoy every single interaction with the followers, fellow writers, and readers. There are so many varieties of people with different ideas, sharing their opinions through highlights and comments. Having the comment on the new article is most exciting as it normally opens up my perspective about things that I never even thought of before.

However, will I be able to enjoy every single interaction even when I reach 100,000 followers? Or would it be very difficult to enjoy interactions as much? Will I get bored of it by then? I wouldn’t know for sure since I have yet to reach the stage. But I can tell one thing for sure. Most likely it will not be as enjoyable as I am feeling now. Things may go mundane once I start feeling it like a chore or work. That makes us wonder… from where did it all go wrong?

3. Why Does It Happen?

You know, whether something is really great or kind of tough, we tend to adapt to it after a while. That’s just how we are. Remember how excited you were when you first rode a bike? But after a while, it just felt normal. It’s the same with everything. That might be why as we get older, time seems to fly by. We’re just used to the routine of life.

And then, there’s this thing about how society often makes us think. It’s like everyone’s telling us that winning or being number one is all that matters. They always share prerequisites of happiness. You have to possess the biggest house, the fanciest car, or become famous to be happy.

But is that really true? It’s like we’re in a race where only first place counts. But life’s not just about being at the top. Instead, life is about journey and experience, and finding joy in the little things, not just the big wins.

How We Can Change Our Perspective?

However, we should know that we already have prerequisites to become happy. As long as we know this motto of life. “Content in the present, at peace with the past, and hopeful about the future.” Why should you rush to see the ending of the game? Can’t we just enjoy the moment we have here, being grateful for what was endowed to us by god? So, let’s just stop torturing ourselves by comparing ourselves with some random people on social media. People only upload highlights of their life. Don’t be deceived and think that they have everything and are happy, whereas you are not.

You just need to realize this. 1) If you have failed, it means you have tried something. 2)If you are tired, it’s evidence that you have been trying and working hard. 3)If you are frustrated, it means that you were eager for something. 4)If you regret it, it’s evidence that you were sincere about something. 5) Just because you failed, are exhausted, or are frustrated, doesn’t define you.

The fact that it was hard for you is because you were sincere about it. Therefore, you’re already a wonderful person. You deserve to be happy just as you are right now.

Wrapping it up

As we wrap this up, let’s take a moment and think about life like we’re all in a big, exciting game. Just like in ‘One Punch Men’, it’s not just about winning or being the best. It’s about enjoying what we’re doing right now. You know how in games, the fun part is often trying to beat the levels, not just finishing the game? It’s the same with life.

We often tell ourselves that we’ll be happy once we get something big. Big success, big house, big bonus, etc. But really, happiness is about the little things we do every day. It’s about enjoying writing a blog post, having a chat with friends, or just being in the moment.

So, why worry so much about the end goal? Let’s enjoy where we are right now. It’s okay if you don’t have everything you want yet. You’re good enough just as you are. If you are having a tough time, that’s fine as well. It means you’re trying and that’s something that you should be proud about.

In short, life’s about the journey, not just the destination. Don’t be so stressed about where we’re going. Let’s remember to have some fun on life’s journey. We’re all doing just fine as who we are.

“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” — Jim Rohn

Reference

[1]: AiR (2020) | Success is not Happiness, Happiness is success. | AiR . | TEDxSJECollege — YouTube

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