I’ve heard happiness described in a lot of ways, with two dominating. One is feeling alive, while the other is having peace of mind. I definitely do understand both. One is euphoria, flow state, and similar exaltations, while the other is being satisfied with how everything is in the moment so that you’re not wanting more. The former is not sustainable, though, even if that feeling alive state can be far longer than brief bursts or moments of joy. And if one felt joy all the time, the joy would either become the norm, or one would be chasing more joyous joys all the time, and that can’t be 100% happiness. The latter, meanwhile, seems to be a calm and neutral state that lacks the joyous aspect of happiness that is a natural high to humans. Besides, life would get pretty boring pretty quickly if one were always satisfied with everything, even if satisfaction was mere acceptance, and never being able to exhibit desire that is a pretty human quality. However, the two can complement each other, which is what I am positing. Have and chase all the goals you want that will make you feel alive. But when you’re not doing that, try to find the peace of mind required to let you accept everything the way they are, until you’re able to feel alive again.
alive
My Definition for Living
What does it mean to be alive? Vibrant question with some terribly dull yet technically correct answers like not being a rock? The more accurate question I’m wanting to be asking is what’s the difference between living and existing as a person? A little less glamorous and a bit more cerebral, even though I’m meaning the same thing. I can’t see the second question being a dramatic movie or conversational line, for example. Regardless, what does it mean to be alive or living, rather than merely existing, as a person? For most of my life, I’ve never had a good answer until I heard world renowned psychotherapist Esther Perel share her meaning. Recently, though, I feel I have a better meaning, for me, at least.
Digital Citizen 