Happiness
by Brian Barolo
Happiness
Happiness is the ultimate feeling that most humans strive to achieve in their own lives. If there is no existence of any sort of happiness in a person’s life, then why do they even exist? To live and enjoy life is so satisfying to the human body, mind, and spirit. Physically, the brain releases a chemical throughout the body, which brings that euphoric feeling that is considered happiness. When someone tells a joke, we tend to chuckle. That is a direct connection to the dopamine distribution within ourselves. There are so many ways in which our bodies feel good. When taking a shower, the feeling of hot water running all over our body and getting clean is a very satisfying activity. I am usually happy every time I get a shower. When playing sports, one is usually happy. Physical activity brings a huge variety of emotions, especially when playing team sports, but generally, people play because it brings them happiness. People usually choose to play team sports because that is a decision that ultimately brings joy and happiness. Playing with others does work well for most. Do what helps keep you happy. It works great.
When achieving happiness, one may choose to be more mentally happy than physically or spiritually. Usually, when a person chooses certain ways to become happy, it is due to their lack of ability to find happiness in other ways or methods. Take, for example a person who may be very overweight and is unable to join in on physical activities like sports, then how do they achieve happiness? Well maybe they watch sports on TV and they gain more mental happiness and satisfaction and that is what works best for them. What about people who are disabled and handicapped? How do they achieve happiness? They are not able to get the same physical satisfactions as those playing the sports, therefore, happiness must be more mental and spiritual. Physical activities, whether it be playing sports, working, doing labor or even going for a walk all has an effect on our bodies. That simple effect on our body not only finds satisfaction from exertion and being physical but also has a direct effect on the mind’s happiness. Mind and body directly effect each other.
Choosing to be spiritually happy should come pretty easily to most. Believing is a very strong word. It is even a much more powerful emotion or feeling. Believing is ‘to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so: Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.’ If you believe you are happy, you most likely have achieved spiritual happiness. As people, we crave and desire to have a higher power outside of ourselves. Believing in a higher power different from our physical and mental capabilities brings in the 3rd dimension most humans recognize: spirituality. To become spiritually happy may be to achieve the highest happiness possible.
The physical body is a tough but tender complex organic structure. It must be constantly maintained and can achieve great feats of strength. The mind is infinite with thought. It is responsible for one’s thoughts and feelings, the seat of the faculty of reason. The mind is going 24/7 and needs recharging every so often, just as the body does. In most cases, the mind wears down before the body. After all, the mind instructs the body what to do. When young and unknowing, we are unable to perform a task without our mind containing the instructions. Education is for the mind, and training is for the body.
Spirituality has to do with the spirit, not as in ghosts, but as in the essence of being human — your soul or your inner life. Spirituality often has to do with religion, but it doesn’t have to. You might say, “I’m not religious, but I have a strong sense of spirituality,” which might mean that you practice yoga or meditation, or you pray with a group, or you nurture your spirit by spending time in nature. Spirituality is more individual. However, you handle your spirituality, and whatever methods you use in reaching your higher power should be constant in order to become peaceful. If you can reach peace in your spirit, then not much else really matters. The ultimate in a human being’s life is striving for and reaching as much happiness in life as possible in all three categories: physical, mental, and spiritual.
So go now and search for your peace of mind. Achieve the ultimate goal in life: HAPPINESS!
