"The Happiness Theory" by Emmanuel A

  

            Trying to be “happy” has, and always will be, a losing battle. Sounds weird, right? My theory about happiness can be summed up in a simple sentence:

 

So long as you chase happiness, you will never live a fulfilled life.

 

I know you are probably thinking, “What is this guy talking about?” Allow me to explain. A few months ago, I watched a clip from Kevin Durant’s podcast, The Boardroom. In it, he speaks about how chasing happiness is not an “efficient way to live.” This excerpt really stuck with me and was all that I could think about in the following days. The more time passed, the more I realized how true this statement was, which influenced me to cultivate this theory.

 

One of the most important building blocks of this theory is the idea that happiness and sadness are two opposites of the Spectrum of Feeling, as I like to call it. Sadness is not a feeling that any sane person would try to attain, correct? So why is it that happiness is the end goal for most people? What even is happiness? Merriam-Webster defines happiness as a “state of well-being.” As humans, it is impossible to continually be in a state of well-being. Life kicks our butt so much that we have come to accept that fact. If that is true, then that is also saying it is impossible to be continually happy. So why chase it? The falloff from true bliss to complete and utter misery is an indescribable experience that nobody should have to go through. Yet so many people find themselves in that situation due to their warped views on the concept of happiness. On the other hand, the rise from sadness to happiness can be one of the most fulfulling feelings in the world. However, that constant struggle with emotions, the continuous falling from one end of the spectrum to the other, can become excruciatingly exhausting. Eventually, it gets to a point where the ascent to happiness is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest, while the descent to depression is on the same level as going down a children’s slide. In my opinion, that is no way for a human to live.

 

You might be wondering, “So what should I do?” The answer is simple. Strive for the middle of the spectrum. Chase satisfaction and contentment. Take each experience for what it is, and do not let your emotions get the best of you. There is a wise saying that I always hear: The one who has their emotions in check has the most power. If very few things can effect your state of being, you will be a much more emotionally mature human because of it.

 

Happiness is a fleeting emotion, just as sadness is. It’s not worth chasing the high, as life will occur, and drop you towards the low, which is just as scary as a Six Flags ride. By staying level-headed and not getting too close to either side, life will be all the more satisfying and fulfilling.