Choose Peace Over Happiness
Peace is a stronger feeling than Happiness!
As we all know, most people strive for happiness and very few seek peace. Peace and happiness are connected with each other, but on a larger scale they both are independent of external parameters.
Happiness is nothing but a feeling of contentment or satisfaction derived from some form of action or deed or an event. It focuses on the ‘feeling good’ factor and not at all feeling bad. It’s more related to the quality of life one is living. Things like achievements, recognition, ambition, desires, dreams act as barometer for scaling happiness. It is transitory and conditional. All these ultimately fade with time. Happiness cannot remain forever. We should not get consumed with the pressure of something that is elusive. Even when it comes to relationships and marriages, there’s a popular belief that once you are married, all your problems would disappear and you would automatically be happy. Now, that’s a myth! The expectation of constant happiness is unrealistic. But then society loves to live vicariously through others’ lives. One should realize that happiness is fleeting and that is why we should not slog in the quest of seeking a permanent state of happiness.
There’s a popular perception that peace reflects dullness, but I would like to say that is a misunderstanding. Instead, it is calmness. It’s a state of quietness inside us by getting rid of all the desires. A peaceful mind neither overthinks nor analyses every situation. Peace is unconditional unlike happiness. It’s a sensation of fulfillment. An ultimate feeling that cannot be defined. If one needs to be at peace, you need to completely accept how things are without any desire to change or for anything to be different. I believe once we have peace, we will no longer need to go in search of happiness. Peace is what mind feels, happiness is what heart emotes. Happiness is a bucket that drains the water out of everyone’s soul and helps us to float along the sea called life. So then, what does peace do? Peace fixes the holes in our souls and prevents the leaking.
When we delve deep into our lives, we realize happiness is momentary, peace is forever. Happiness is what is best for you, whereas peace is what is right for you. Happiness is eating sweets and fried food. Peace is to stay fit and healthy. Happiness is smoking a cigarette. Peace is having clear lungs. Happiness is doing something that you know you shouldn’t, but eventually you do it because you can. Peace is doing something that you think you can’t, but in the end you do it because you should. It’s not possible to be happy for a long time (if at all there’s something called ‘long term happiness) without feeling at peace. There is no way to peace, peace itself is the way. Peace should be everyone’s final destination!
