March 20th was the International Day of Happiness. This day, established by the UN, seeks to recognize the importance of happiness for the individual and general well-being of each nation.
Happiness is something we all aspire to, and in our society, it has become almost mandatory. However, it's important to recognize that it's not necessary (or realistic) to strive for happiness all the time.
In the famous book "Man's Search for Meaning", is cited Professor Edith Weisskopf-Joelson:
"Our standard philosophy of mental hygiene insists on the idea that people must be happy, that unhappiness is a symptom of maladjustment. Such a system of values must be responsible for the fact that the accumulation of inevitable unhappiness is increased by the misery of being unhappy."
Although Weisskopf-Joelson wrote this in 1946, his words are still very relevant today. Our society constantly promotes the idea that we must be optimistic above all, paradoxically causing guilt. and misfortune for those who cannot maintain that lifestyle.
Today, as in the last century, There is a culture of happiness that has made us believe that daily suffering is a disease. and that there is only emotional well-being when one is abundantly happy and you think positively. Surprise! Things aren't like that. We need to make room for suffering and frustration in our lives. That way, we can deal with the thoughts and feelings they provoke.
Happiness and fulfillment are not synonymous.
As the title of this post suggests, happiness isn't everything. Feeling fulfilled by what we do and the life we lead doesn't mean living in a state of absolute enthusiasm. Building a full and meaningful life involves questioning things, overcoming losses, learning to set boundaries, shifting paradigms, forgiving and asking for forgiveness, etc. All of the above is neither simple nor fun, but it enriches us as people and helps us grow emotionally.
Let's face it: some things have to be suffered. And as the Depeche Mode song says, you have to suffer well. The bad times will pass, but the lessons learned, at best, will remain forever. Happiness and joy are an important component of our quality of life, but they aren't everything. Give yourself the opportunity to feel all the emotions and thrive.
