Is Happiness A Camouflage?

A CEO must have an impressive resume after years of experience. Students get scholarship not for sitting around doing nothing. Thus, what is the basic formula in order to achieve happiness? According to what I wrote earlier, it is understandable that the word "healthy" were included in most times. People define happiness by being healthy and a country even put health expectancy in measuring happiness. It is crystal clear that healthiness is a key to happiness. But what kind of healthiness are we talking about here? As I talked to people with age older than 85 years old and learning from extraordinary people stories who live a happy life, I come to conclusion that the basic formula of happiness is Kokoro. In Japanese, Kokoro means a combination between mind, soul, heart (body) and spirit. 

MIND

BE RESPECTFUL AND BE KIND

How many times do you ask yourself why do people disrespect others? Or how can people do unpleasant things and not feel bad about it? Bullying become one of the fun games. Throwing trash in ocean and causing death to animals are common. Lack of awareness to queue in public places is not a big deal. And more of these basic stuff. I find this as a chronic mental failure. But did you know that Indonesia is actually known as a generous country? Based on the latest report I read, we are the second most generous country on earth. So why don't we be part of this, respect each other and just be kind to another? I totally understand that we are living in the society of pluralism where there are many different ethnic groups or educational backgrounds. But don't we all share the same values? Remember the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.

We are also known as one of the friendliest countries in the world. Hence, what makes all these theories we learned vanished gradually over time? Why do we still find so many irresponsible people? So let us start fresh. Basic stuff. Queue. Not to litter. Stop bullying. Respect others. Share. Smile. Say thank you. Love animals. Love plants. Love earth. There are billions of small things in the world for us to contribute in being respectful generation. As I said on my previous article "The Nitty Gritty", people need to be awakened that selfishness can endanger ourselves and others. Take your logic and heart wherever you go. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." So please guys, do not let our future generation blame their mental failure on us. 

EMBRACE YOURSELF

One of the people I talk to, told me that happiness is self-love. The person said that happiness is being able to love yourself. I tend to agree. Knowing yourself better can help you not only improving your self-quality, but eventually accepting who you are. Remember the moment when we think we look good but people told us we have a bad haircut or a lousy shirt? Because sometimes we just can't see ourselves clearly. Ask surroundings and dare ourselves to accept critics. For me personally, getting critics and inputs are like being given a free answer from your personality test. It's a shortcut from taking an hour going through questions over questions, you'll get an instant answer instead. Aristotle once said, "There is only one way to avoid criticism. Do nothing. Say nothing. And BE NOTHING." If you do not mind being nothing then I suggest not to seek criticism. If you are looking for self-improvement then be open to one. Seek for a better change. Evaluate yourself. Learn to fall in love with yourself. Embrace yourself.

WALK AWAY FROM COMFORT ZONE

Who doesn't tempt visit a comfort zone? A free luxury ticket to stay in a comfortable state, where less stress and happiness-in-disguise constantly tempting. From things like being a chronic introvert, avoiding people, or being jobless, until addictive things like smoking, being alcoholic, internet or games addict, and many more. It is not jeopardizing in short term basis I suppose, until one day we forget to leave the zone for being too comfortable. Being spoiled by what we already achieve is easy. But going extra mile escaping from our safe bubble is a great victory. 

Prove to yourself that you cannot be defeated by the camouflage of comfort zone. Whenever you get bewildered, just remember that as long as there are no room to grow then it is time to walk away. We are pampered with so many options in life to be a better individual. You can find mosque, church or any other worship places anywhere you go, fitness centers are nearby, bubble gum to chew instead of nicotine, books to read instead of games. Earn own income. Learn new language. Open a business. Learn to cook. Take post graduate program. Study abroad.  There are many things we can choose to challenge our brain cells to keep on working. All we need is a little motivation, because process won't betray us.

FEED THE MIND