We are saturated by advice on what to do to get happiness but how about what NOT to do to avoid losing happiness. To remain happy, actions which “Kill” happiness can not be ignored and these “Killers” need to be arrested.
Here we identify the FOUR major “Killers” and also issue an arrest warrant ie a solution on how to tackle them.
Killer-1 : The Blame Game
You cannot keep thinking and worrying about the world around you which seems out of control and not as per your desires. You cannot hold sand if your palm is too tight. You have to be flexible to take the positive and avoid the negatives in the environment. In short, learn to deal with the world as you find it. Believe in yourself that you can do so.
Arrest Warrant : You have been dealt a hand by God. All you can do is to play that hand as best as you can. You can not ask for a re-deal. Look within to find solutions to problems and not keep blaming the world. Poet Ghalib put it very aptly.
“ Whole Life I Made This Mistake That I Kept On Cleaning The Mirror Without Realizing That The Dirt Was Actually On My Face.”
Hence, first look within for the shortcoming instead of blaming others.
Killer-2: Just Being A Dreamer
Dreaming isn’t bad but just being a dreamer is. We all wish to live the life of our dreams but not working towards them will keep on making you sadder over time. Unsurprisingly, the day comes when a person won’t feel happy about anything because he lost all his dreams to a lack of action. Dreams are great to have since unless you dream, you will never have a big goal in life.
Arrest Warrant : You can not realize your dreams without preparing a plan of action. Do that. And then go after these plans like a mad bull. Nobody ever achieved any dream without giving it your all. Warren Buffet has a good take on this.
Killer-3 : Comparison With Others
By comparing with others we can remain stuck in the circle of life and never feel good about ourselves.
The Hungry Crow story tells how the crow changed his color by getting into a bucket of white paint and pretending to be a dove just to feed on the food given to the doves. The doves find the reality soon and shunned him. Crows shunned him too as he was white. In the end, the rain washes away the paint and the “fake” identity.
Moral : Do not pretend to be what you are NOT.
Arrest Warrant : You can not beat the world since there is always someone ahead of you. Goes for everyone. Trick is to compare with own self and improve so that you become the beacon which others may want to compare with.
Killer-4: Bad Company
You will always have people around you who constantly radiate negativity by complaining about situations and other people. If you do not move away from such people, you will begin to attract sadness while happiness will drift away.
Arrest Warrant : Stay around positive people. As an old saying goes “A man is known by the company he keeps.”. Be choosy on whom to bond with.
The Takeaway
Now you know the “Killers” and you know where they are. All you need to do it to arrest them and put them behind bars so that they do not cause any more problems for you. Lead a happier life by following what’s mentioned here. As Poet Iqbal put it, finally, it’s all about you.
“ Raise Yourself To Such A Level, That When You Finally Go Up To HIM, The God Himself Asks You “Say ! What Is Your Wish ? ”
The pointers here should help you change your way of living to get happiness and avoid happiness “Killers”. Good luck.