Smile like you mean it

I recently wrote an article on Happiness for the NUS school magazine, similar to the recent blogpost I put up here (or not-so-recent). My Chief Editor gave me an example for an NUS student's happiness:

1) Having an active social life - This requires us to engage in clubbing or being in team sports or being involved in dancing or generally doing something that has a group-oriented setting and we aren't happy until we find a group that accepts us and that we want to be accepted by. The only solution is to be patient as you will find the group/club/activity that you want to do with others but also we should be adventurous and try things we haven't tried before. 

I thought, 'Yeah, that's pretty true. A lot of people are trying out new things to fit in. But, how far would they go? Would they engage in something that they find immoral or uncomfortable just to fit in?'

On the heels of that thought came another, 'Is that really happiness?'

Honestly, there really is no point fitting in with something or somewhere that does not make you happy. Even belonging to something that accepts you. At the end of the day, you yourself will have to attribute a value to your happiness in different circumstances - how far would you compromise your happiness to be... happy?

Tread lightly.

I'm back!

...but not for long.

For this semester holds many things and happenings of great consequence. Must concentrate.

I will return once in a while.

Adios for now!

Happiness

What is it?

I'm reading this book entitled 'Hector and the Search for Happiness' currently. It's the pseudo-literature sort, written in a child-like manner (much like the 'Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime') but featuring mature themes and issues, veiled by innuendos and symbolism. So far, what strikes me is what this psychiatrist, Hector, has found out about Happiness:

1) Making comparisons can spoil your happiness.
2) Happiness often comes when least expected.
3) Many people see happiness only in the future.
4) Many people think that happiness comes from having more power and more money.
5) Sometimes happiness is not knowing the whole story.
6) Happiness is a long walk in the mountains.

and so on. I shan't spoil the reading experience for you, in case you want to read it.

I really, really liked point 3. Which kinda links to point 4 as well. I think a lot of us tend to get caught in the rat race because we aim for power and money in the future so as to be happy. But truthfully, happiness is right here and right now, with each experience we go through, isn't it? If we only see happiness as something in the future, that means our 'now' must be pretty unhappy.

I quote Scrubs:

“Who the hell cares what anybody else thinks? Just look into your heart, do whatever the hell makes you happy.”— Dr Kelso.

Meme meme

When was the last time you did something in your life ENTIRELY and PURELY for the sake of someone else, some cause, anything other than yourself? When was the last time you did something so utterly unselfish in nature that would have earned a pat on the back from Mother Theresa herself?

Enter our generation, the consumer generation.

Consumerism is broadly defined as the order now based on the ever-increasing desire to purchase more goods and services in increasingly greater amounts. Now, the desire to purchase stuff is fine. Everyone needs stuff. Stuff is good. The keyword here is 'ever-increasing' - in short, more, more, more and more! We don't only need stuff - we need more, more, more and more stuff! We have a never ending list of things we need (or should I say want? The line between the two is thin in today's context).

Consume, and may all your dreams come true

This, in itself, isn't THAT bad. What's worse is the fact that what we need (want) is for me, me, me and me only! It's not like we want more food for the starving - 'Sure, we'll do community service, but what's in it for me?' 'Sure, I'll donate to charity, but will I make the newspaper headlines if I do make a huge donation?'

What happened to causes, for the sake of causes? What happened to romaticism? Even love is a transaction in these days - I love you because you make ME happy, I love you because you buy ME stuff. Meme, meme.

We need to start looking outside our narrow perspectives, outside our self-absorbed circle of thoughts.

What am I studying for?

Society says, I study for a degree so I can earn more money in the future.

Smart people say, I study because I can learn more about the job I want to do in the future.

Me?

...

I received some perspective while talking to Ken today. We were talking about how successful Christians were more likely to be able to influence more people and bring them to Christ. I made this comment: 'I guess if a person studies hard with that objective in mind, he won't miss the whole point - he won't get consumed by his own desire to get rich or simply be the best at his job - he has a greater calling'.

And it dawned upon me. That was my answer. Why was I studying all this stuff I probably won't touch in the future?

Because, it really is for His glory, to make His name known. For what value is there in worldly riches and fame, unless they serve a greater purpose? The pitfall, is getting consumed by the means and forgetting about the end in mind.

My aim - The Cross.