Happiness = Reality - Expectations

Happiness has been a topic of discussion with my friends (Yes, I have some real friends) and here are some of my thoughts.

I guess because happiness isn't the absence of suffering. Unhappiness is mainly from the absence of meaning. So the goal should be to strive for meaning and purpose?

The trap of "hedonism" happiness is common and people get stuck in it. They try to live a life of pleasures thinking this is happiness, but when they realize it isn't, it’s a reality check moment.

I was born a have-not, so I grew up aspiring for ‘things’ (shopping still gives me immense pleasure, but now it’s more a creative pursuit than a compulsive one)

The secret seems to be to find out: How to be OK with the way things are going, but in the meanwhile have the drive to change it?

Having ambition but having patience + radical acceptance of the now has been key in helping not burn out.

These lessons were learned with some class II burns.

I’m now patiently impatient, celebrating small wins and staying grounded because growth comes in seasons, not all at once.