What Is Happiness?

Or should I ask, what is your definition of happiness?  Some may say having lots of money.  Some may say having lots of time.  And then there are others that say having a never ending-flow of good food, love and fun equates to happiness.  So okay ... did you know that happiness based on things like pleasure lasts only a brief moment in time?  It is quite fleeting, right?

Steve Jobs, the great business man and visionary, had succumbed to cancer and passed on recently.  But words just can't do justice to what he had accomplished in this world.  He was the driving force that bridged the gap between man and technology.  But with all his accomplishments, I wondered if he was happy.

People, at times, feel like there is something missing in their lives, and unfortunately, nothing changes and they put it off until later.  Well, life goes on, and by the time you realize what you missed, it's too late.  At someone's deathbed, what do you think that person, who is nearing death, remembers most?  Do you think it's about the wealth and power he/she acquired, or the number of prestigious jobs held in high places, or even the number of spouses he/she had?  None of the above.  What is dear to their hearts at that moment in time, what they fondly remember as they are nearing the end of their life are such things as:

• Friends and family
• The beauty in nature
• Being able to freely live in the moment
• How they helped others grow and succeed
• What postive impact they had in the community

In a nutshell, it is living a fulfilling life ... a life of purpose.  And happiness derived from purpose lasts the longest, as you can sense from the topics spoken by individuals nearing the end of their lives.  You could say that it's the ultimate form of happiness since it will stick with you for a very, very long time.

As these individuals start to recall their past, those memories that are brought up are reflections of who they truly are.  Each action you perform results in a memory capsule for you in the future.  So your actions today will be a catalyst for what is reflected in future memories.  So, the million dollar question is, will your mind reflect memories that describe aspects of living that fulfilling, purpose-driven life ... that ultimate form of happiness?

I love this song by Michael Jackson titled, "Man In The Mirror".  He sings it with passion and conviction.  I wonder if that was his most favorite song?  It does hit home with today's post.  Here's his famous song ... enjoy:

Carpe Diem!