As long as you think 'I want to be happy,' you cannot realize the essence of happiness

To you who think, "I want to be happy."
How did you feel when you read the title?
I am sorry if it made you feel a little uneasy.

But it is okay.
I am writing this article for you.
I chose this title because I want you to realize just one important thing.
Please give me just a little bit of your time.

First, what is happiness to you?
"Finding your true calling"
"Becoming rich"
"Marrying your ideal partner"
I think there are many forms of happiness.

There is one thing I would like you to notice here.
When you think "I want to be happy," you are simultaneously holding the thought that "I am not happy right now."
It may be unconscious, but this means you have a habit of downplaying the positive aspects of things and focusing on the negative ones.

That thought of "I want to be happy" actually blinds you to the irreplaceable happiness that is already present in your daily life.

Let me give you an example.

Suppose you were able to marry your ideal partner while still holding the "I want to be happy" mindset. New married life might be fun, but as the days go by, you will inevitably find yourself focusing on your partner's annoying traits, or on dissatisfactions and shortcomings in your daily life.

Suppose you succeeded in business and became rich while still holding the "I want to be happy" mindset. You might be able to make flashy purchases or live a life of luxury. However, at some unexpected moment, you will feel a sense of emptiness.
People who win the lottery and become unhappy follow this pattern.

This is because if you maintain the mindset of not being able to feel happy "now," no matter how ideal a life you obtain,
"I am happy"
is not something you will suddenly be able to feel.

That said, I am not telling you to be satisfied by calling your unfulfilled current situation "happiness."
I want to convey that in order to feel "I am happy" from the heart when you achieve your ideal life, why not try "training" to find and savor "happiness" from this very moment?

Happiness is not something you "become," it is something you "notice."

First, try looking for and focusing on the small happinesses that are naturally around you, the things you are blessed with, and the things you can be grateful for.
And instead of dismissing them as "this is normal," pick them up and look at them closely.

Even if you cannot feel that way right away, you do not need to rush. Since this is training, the ability to notice small happinesses will gradually develop each time you repeat it.

If you cannot think of anything, first consider the fact that you are able to read this article, which means "you have your eyesight."
If it is night, think about "the fact that the lights in your room turn on as a matter of course."
If you think you have no money, think about "the fact that you have the leeway to pay for your smartphone's data plan."

And I will tell you one more wonderful mechanism of this world.
When your ability to notice "happiness" in your daily life improves, for some reason, "happy events" will start to happen one after another.
Please try experiencing this for yourself.

I pray that your smiles will increase 🥳