The Secret To Happiness

How I Learned To Appreciate The Little Things

I used to believe that happiness was a relentless pursuit, a prize to be toiled for, a reward to be merited. I used to believe that happiness hinged on external forces, like wealth, triumph, notoriety, affection, or validation. I used to believe that happiness resided in a destination, an objective, a reward.

But I was mistaken.

I acquired this wisdom through a sequence of incidents that transformed my existence irrevocably. Incidents that unveiled the fragility and preciousness of life. Incidents that awakened my appreciation for the minuscule details I once overlooked.

It all started when I left my occupation. I served as a senior executive in an financial services organization, earning a respectable salary, and basking in a comfortable lifestyle. I possessed everything I thought I desired: a luxurious vehicle, an expansive mansion, and so many personal possessions. I swelled with pride over my accomplishments. I assumed I was content.

However, calamity struck. The company plunged into bankruptcy due to the owner misusing monies, leading to the layoff of hundreds of employees, including myself. I was jolted and devastated. It felt as if everything had been snatched away from me. I felt like a failure. I felt devoid of purpose.

I endeavored to secure alternative employment, yet the task proved arduous. The economy was in shambles, and competition ran rampant. I submitted applications to countless companies, but of those offering me a position, none were the right fit. A sense of hopelessness and helplessness engulfed me.

Eventually, depression and anxiety descended upon my being. Apathy permeated my existence. I withdrew from society as I knew it. I neglected my well-being. I abhorred myself and detested my life. I believed matters could not deteriorate further. Unfortunately, they did. However, something transpired that altered my perspective, demeanor and happiness.

I met my wife. She uplifted my spirits from the moment we met. As I gazed upon her eyes, I felt a stirring within my heart. A warmth washed over me, accompanied by a sense of serenity. A luminosity illuminated my being, a happiness. That was the moment when I comprehended that happiness did not hinge on possessing everything or attaining perfection. Happiness did not revolve around money, success, fame, or validation. Happiness was derived from savoring life’s simple pleasures: inhaling the delicate fragrance of freshly bloomed flowers, reveling in the melodious echoes of laughter, relishing the rich taste of velvety white chocolate, embracing the warmth of an affectionate embrace, and feasting one’s eyes upon the radiance of a genuine smile.

Happiness was found in cherishing the minuscule wonders: witnessing the majestic sunrise, bidding farewell to the sun as it set on the horizon, gazing up at the twinkling stars that adorned the night sky, observing raindrops dancing upon the windowpane, marveling at delicate snowflakes that blanketed the ground, admiring the graceful flight of birds, feeling the gentle caress of a refreshing breeze, basking in the cocoon-like comfort of one’s bed, finding solace in the familiar embrace of home, reveling in savoring the presence of treasured friends, basking in the love of a devoted partner, and embracing the vitality that dwelled within one’s soul.

Happiness was discovered by fully immersing oneself in the present moment: cultivating mindfulness of every fleeting thought, attuning to the nuances of one’s emotions, savoring each sensory experience, embracing the unknown with a sense of wonder, exploring the mysteries of one’s surroundings, unleashing boundless creativity, extending compassion both to oneself and others, expressing authenticity without reservation, embarking on courageous endeavors, and nurturing aspirations filled with hope.

Happiness was a conscious choice: fostering a positive outlook, nurturing unwavering optimism, embodying resilience in the face of adversity, adapting with grace and flexibility, employing resourcefulness to overcome obstacles, taking proactive strides towards solutions, fostering a growth-oriented mindset, and pursuing a purpose-driven existence.

Bliss was unearthed from within: finding contentment in the present, experiencing satisfaction in the depths of the soul, basking in the profound sense of fulfillment, cultivating inner peace that transcended worldly chaos, embracing a serene state of mind, embracing boundless joy, and experiencing euphoria that transcended the boundaries of ordinary existence.

Happiness was a state of mind, a state of heart, a state of being.

Happiness was a clandestine knowledge that I had finally unlocked.

Thank you for your time, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed what you have read today. Please clap, comment & subscribe. I have plenty of upcoming articles on varying topics, if you so choose to check them out. You will find future articles of mine also published in “Illumination”, “Writers’ Blokke” and other publications along the way. Furthermore, previous articles may be in the “Living Abroad and Loving It” Publication.