Life's Pursuit

Img1: Hemingway

Happiness is the simple concept of positive thought; though we, being the imperfect beings that we are, tend to complicate the simplest things to the point of anxiety.

Generally speaking "happiness" is an ongoing pursuit due to the fact that once our basic needs are met new needs arise and take presidency; think Maslow's Hierarchy [img2]. Remember a time when you were so hungry that your stomach was rumbling at you and you felt like fainting. When you ate that first bite of delicious nourishment, what were you feeling? Were you angry or sad? Perhaps. But I bet you also had a large amount of happiness as well; like nothing was better in that moment.

Img2: Maslow's Hierarchy

This is the reason the saying "money can't buy happiness" is part true. Yes money can indeed buy happiness, but only a few moments of it because once you've bought everything you wanted and there is nothing left to buy, your mind starts wandering and discontent sets in.

So why am I going on and on about the basics of happiness?

I've been depressed for a long time. It comes and goes but never quite leaves me. There is always something that is pulling me back, hurting me. Granted some of it may be chemical; but I honestly don't know enough about that side of psychology yet (only a second year) to properly understand how that connects with outside influences. What I do know is that much of my depression and frustration comes from a combination of fear and not knowing what comes next or how I should be reacting.
When I read the Hemingway quote above [img1] I thought to myself "Is this why I'm unhappy all of the time? Is it all because I don't do the things that I really truly want to do?".

So my challenge for myself the next week is to start doing things that I really want to do. I'm going to try to take steps to overcome my fear of the unknown and enjoy each moment (cheesy I know).
For those of you that read this blog (you are few I realize) I'd recommend you try the same if you aren't already. A good start is to read the article I posted last time; it's an eye opener for sure! Another help is to not go into this with high expectations - because though it's good to push yourself and to want more, sometimes high expectations can hold us back and/or disappoint us more - and who knows you may surprise yourself.

Pepper "out"