MY IDEA OF A HAPPY LIFE
I often hear people complain about life. Some say they cannot make both ends meet. Others say they do not have the comforts which many people have. There are some others who are not happy because the cares of a family prevent them from doing well what they want to do in life. There are others who are unhappy about the corrupt and the heartless world they live in. in short, if you believe in, what most people say, we live in an unhappy world. Thomas Hardy said the same thing memorably “Happiness is but an occasional episode in the general drama of pain.” That is, happiness comes by fits and starts and rarely; human life is mostly full of sufferings.
What is my idea about a happy life? Before I give my views, it would be useful to see how others have answered this question. Some people believe that renunciation is the way to a happy life. They believe that happiness comes through giving up the cares or pleasures of the world. Some choose the way of religion. By turning their back on the man and the world, they hope to see a ray of happy light from heaven.
Others like the American philosopher, Thoreau, believe that our society is the cause of our unhappiness. So we should go away from the worldly and wicked society; we should withdraw into the woods. There is a life if simple living and high thinking, that alone can bring real happiness. But this , again, means searching for happiness away from one’s fellow beings. Clearly, this is not a healthy way for all to follow.
Some philosophers have written books about ideal imaginary countries where a happy life might be possible. Thus Plato, Sir Thomas Moore and Samuel Butler have written books to show that a better social, political and religious system could make a happy life possible. Their ideas, however not been put into practice till day. That is why we can get little help from them in answering the above question in a practical way. So let us try to suggest a few practical hints in order to express our idea of a happy life.
HINTS:
I believe that whatever be a man’s business or profession in life, he should have a worthy goal. He must feel that what he is doing is worth doing. He should also feel that the way he is doing it, is the best way he can do it. In other words, he should recognize the worth of what he is doing and adopt the best means and then work hard to do it. His means as well as ends should be good. He should plan carefully and work patiently.
Another important rule is to keep away from those activities which are anti-social. A man should not forget his social, domestic, personal and spiritual responsibilities. If even then things go wrong he should have trust in God and hope for the best. Faith in his work, in his own ability and in God is important.
Another way of ensuring a happy life, is by being friendly, fair, honest, helpful and being sympathetic to others. A man who is in the habit of back biting will soon be in trouble and hot waters. He will make enemies through his bad habits and ill nature. It is therefore necessary for a man to learn top adapt himself to new situations, use tact in dealing with people,and be willing to com[promise whenever necessary, to achieve a noble aim.
A happy life, for me, means keeping my wants limited and not desiring all things other people have. One should go on in being true to one’s own self , living hopefully, taking the good with the bad. That is the way to lead a happy life.
To sum up, blameless personal conduct, strict moral principles and honest pursuit of spiritual goals – these alone can enable us to achieve a happy life.
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