Thinkers’ Park

A friend of mine once asked me

Why is it that when one pursues happiness one is miserable, but when one pursues something else one achieves happiness?

First, we are not always miserable by persuing happiness. But yes, I agree that many times the price we need to pay to acheive something can be painful. And if the results are not up to our expectation we experience frustration. On the other hand if we just forget about “what we crave” and focus on doing what is ought to be done, usually we experience less frustration, more serenity, and moments of causeless estacy.
I remember a quote in this context:

“We do not pursue miseries, but still we get our share of pain. Similarly the share of happiness we deserve too comes to us, even without any special endeavor.”

A sweet, memorable, beautiful incident happened in my life just last week. I am still intoxicated with the remembrance of those moments.(Don’t ask me what the incident was. Its private and confidential )

Interestingly, I never ever expected such an incident. It came as a complete surprise. If I would have desired for that incident before it happened, and if everything would have happened as I desired, that “element of surprise” would have been missing.

Its pleasurable to pay the price and get the thing we want to have. But its much more pleasurable if the thing we need/want comes as a surprise gift. So now I am trying to adopt this philosophy in my life:

1. Welcome life as it comes.
2. Give more and expect less.
3. Be grateful to God for those “surprise gifts”

I am going to write these three points on a piece of paper and paste it somewhere I will have to look at repeatedly.