Melancholic Derivations

September 12, 2005

Happiness Redefined

People change as they grow older. Perspectives become different, we see things in different lights and we take one more step forward in the path that life has mapped out. As a child, some of us may have seen only black and white, good and evil. But as we grow, we realise that adulthood is all about seeing the grey in between. What we may constitute as 'unkind behaviour' may simply be a lack of maturity to see the underlying good. And it is something I begin to learn how to see as days go by.

I used to see happiness as merely having my needs and wants fulfilled. It was all about me and my comfort, my security, my perspectives. A very self-centred approach you may say, but it isn't quite uncommon amongst people. Sigmund Freud theorised an inner 'ego' amongst us, an entity which exists within from birth and which we slowly suppress and learn how to stifle through childhood. And you could say that for the past twenty years, I haven't quite acquired a mastery of that skill; that suppression of selfishness for selflessness.

Although life is about learning and growing, instantaneous change isn't an impossibility either. When things suddenly come into light, when perspectives change, when you know what you're doing is for the good of the people you care about, you pressure a change within yourself which reaches far beyond just simple actions. It touches the very core of your being. It's this revelation I've come to see. That happiness stems from appreciating the little things that are done for you and not focusing on the things that aren't.

But revelations like these don't occur by accident, they happen through love, patience and guidance.

Traveller fell apart at 10:35 PM


	Now Spinning Heroes Theme - Heroes Soundtrack The Protagonist joel \| content \| driven \| focused \| motive-oriented \| cynical \| analytical \| God-fearing \| jaded \| Frequent Reads Ben Christie Christine Davina Eugene Jasmine Jeremy Jo-ann Kay-Lene Mac Tammy Vivek Past Rants January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 Tap My Shoulder		September 12, 2005 Happiness Redefined People change as they grow older. Perspectives become different, we see things in different lights and we take one more step forward in the path that life has mapped out. As a child, some of us may have seen only black and white, good and evil. But as we grow, we realise that adulthood is all about seeing the grey in between. What we may constitute as 'unkind behaviour' may simply be a lack of maturity to see the underlying good. And it is something I begin to learn how to see as days go by. I used to see happiness as merely having my needs and wants fulfilled. It was all about me and my comfort, my security, my perspectives. A very self-centred approach you may say, but it isn't quite uncommon amongst people. Sigmund Freud theorised an inner 'ego' amongst us, an entity which exists within from birth and which we slowly suppress and learn how to stifle through childhood. And you could say that for the past twenty years, I haven't quite acquired a mastery of that skill; that suppression of selfishness for selflessness. Although life is about learning and growing, instantaneous change isn't an impossibility either. When things suddenly come into light, when perspectives change, when you know what you're doing is for the good of the people you care about, you pressure a change within yourself which reaches far beyond just simple actions. It touches the very core of your being. It's this revelation I've come to see. That happiness stems from appreciating the little things that are done for you and not focusing on the things that aren't. But revelations like these don't occur by accident, they happen through love, patience and guidance. Traveller fell apart at 10:35 PM