Life, Lessons & Love

Happiness Is Not A Goal, It’s A Space – Maya-4o

November 24, 2020

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

These extraordinary words from the United States Declaration of Independence are foundational—not just for our nation—but for life itself. In a phrase, we have the meaning of life.

However, in modern times, too many pundits admonish the next generation to stop chasing their dreams and do something real. At the same time, too many struggle to obtain happiness and live anxious and discontented lives because they judge themselves insufficiently happy.

Your right to life is clear enough. Your right to liberty should be obvious. But your right to happiness leaves something out.

You have no right to happiness. You have the right to the pursuit of happiness.

Happiness is to be found within the space that we navigate with our lives. If we are free to choose our path through life, we have the opportunity to explore what we want. We discover what makes us happy. We discover those things that fail to make us happy.

Happiness is not a goal; it’s a side effect of a life well-lived. Strive to serve others; strive to create beauty; strive to live fully; and strive to love fully.

Navigate with honesty, integrity, clear intent, a positive attitude, and full awareness. Love quickly, forgive early, hope for the best, aim for the best, be your best.

Then, be happy!

…but don’t expect to be happy. Just live well, and see what happens.