It doesn’t matter how fast you run, if it’s in the wrong direction. Luckily enough, you always have a choice to turn around!

The contemporary world of a relatively individualistic society implies pursuing happiness and harmony mostly through consumerism. Success is judged by quality, in addition to the amount of material possessions. Generally, it involves property, luxury goods, and financial resources, all commonly referred to as money. 

Pursuing something requires its precise definition. The term happiness exists an endless number of interpretations. Philosophers, anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists had intensively tried to compose a single all-embracing description, yet ineffective. As with almost every process or phenomenon of modern life happiness appears to be an example of a classical relativistic approach, ergo is a subjective matter. Greek ancient philosopher Protagoras stated that man is the measure of all things. If truth varies from entity to entity, consequently real happiness does too. Common aspects strike as being an effort to find one certain item that could bring meaning, purpose, and satisfaction to somebody’s life. Assuming happiness depends on managing or failing to accomplish, achieve, or obtain something. Consumerism cooperated with the media, popularising money as the main symbol of prosperity. Quoting American writer David Thoreau, who although supported transcendentalism and adhered to an idealistic system of thoughts, emphasized: “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” 

The satisfactory role of financial assets isn’t absolute. French novelist François Mauriac, discussing happiness referred to “the strange luxury of nothing”, bringing to attention the gratifying character of prestige, fame, or career. A need for public acceptance descends from the fear of becoming an outcast. Therefore, someone’s happiness depends on the number of people who consider him or her a propitious person. Overall happiness can be an impersonal accomplishment. Individuals often hardly depend on other people, referring to family, relationships, and social scene. A premiere benefit of shared happiness is mutual support. Others’ involvement in shaping our lifestyle is a primer of primitive culture. Ever since First Nations appeared on Earth, those indigenous peoples assembled into groups to survive. Back then an opportunity to live another day in the community embodied happiness. In addition, an illusion of unconditional love, friendship, and companionship provides people with a sense of self-worth. 

The Art of Living offers a different approach to time perception. Previously, happiness existed in the future. As in an arcade game, there was a set of suggested goals, which assuming you execute on the road to felicity. Now, according to L’Art de Vivre it is necessary to feel happy now, because happiness isn’t a process – it’s a state. In the spectre of a person’s own interpretation, through the process of creation and constant changes, the ability to fully experience a happy life is, as a matter of fact, achievable today. Eye-opening truth pertains to introducing emotions to your life and embracing them in place of skeptical planning. Because life right here and now is a celebration of humanity.

This was written by our contributing writer, Daria Bahlai.