Be happy by being useful to others ..

Happiness is one of our first and final wishes on planet earth, probably it explains the reason for our existence in planet earth. 

Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher (384-322 BC) wrote 

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy, and the Aristotelian tradition. Wikipedia

Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived and the first genuine scientist in history. He made pioneering contributions to all fields of philosophy and science, he invented the field of formal logic, and he identified the various scientific disciplines and explored their relationships to each other. - www.britannica.com

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), the American philosopher wrote thus

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable,to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

In his lifetime, Ralph Waldo Emerson became the most widely known man of letters in America, establishing himself as a prolific poet, essayist, popular lecturer, and an advocate of social reforms who was nevertheless suspicious of reform and reformers. www.utm.edu

Ralph Waldo Emerson was also a staunch opponent of slavery.

This is a thought which always disturbs us, what makes us happy. Is making money, without any morals the final purpose of life ? Does driving the best cars bring one happiness ? Can our profession bring us happiness ? Most of my colleagues and friends had the freedom to choose the profession of working in the great industries, visiting important and interesting tourist places, meeting up with important people, enjoying the best entertainment, having a happy and contented marriage, making lot of money, living in the best houses, traveling in the best cars, eating the best food, what not ? 

Finally, would all of that make us happy ?

Try being grateful for all things we have, our partners, children, parents, friends and relatives, wealth, education, job and luxuries of life. 

Most of us have passions in the younger days. Following our passions is one way of being happy. My grandfather was a teacher and teaching ran through our family blood. I have seen grandfather feeling proud of his students doing well in life. I knew that teaching is indeed a great profession too. In the formative years my parents gave me the freedom to choose what I wanted to do with my life.

After Post Graduation, when life asked me the question what I wished to do with my life, I finally chose the profession of teaching as I found it could influence many lives. Even to this day I can sense the way my reading, writing and teaching, along with my passion for the nature and environment is influencing hundreds of students I meet and interact with on a daily basis. For me teaching was both a calling and passion, not a profession. The lucky part is when you get paid to do what is passionate to you, it is all the more exciting. 

Avoiding negativity in our lives and our actions and thoughts and practicing forgiveness is another way to be happy. 

If you are still confused what to do with your life and not happy yet, I have one simple advice - Do more to help others. Be it philanthropy, service, writing, working or whatever that can help others.

Toyota Motors, one of the greatest car manufacturer from Japan has been doing it since 1939 for 83 years, how to offer better and better cars to the public, how to give them more value?  How to bring more and more innovative features to the owner so that he is satisfied extremely with the car. The whole industrial world believes in making better and high quality products and services offering great value to customers. It definitely does make everyone happy. 

If someone is interested in carrying out research or writing world class case studies, do more of it, world class. Recognition may or may not come, but the satisfaction of doing more of it is worth all the satisfaction and joy in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi is a great social reformer and father of nation of India. No one has influenced humanity as much as Mahatma Gandhi. Losing oneself in the service of others is according to him finding a meaning for our existence on planet earth and thus finding happiness. Gandhi once said, "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."  

Why do rich men donate or commit to donate more than half of their earnings to philanthropy ? It s because it is the only way they can get happiness, making others happy by being useful to others .. The richest of them all, John D Rockefeller donated more than 90% of his wealth to society through the Rockefeller Foundation so that the money becomes useful to society. Of late Mackenzie Scot, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos gave away almost $10 billion of her wealth anonymously to charities across the world so that others could be happy and contented.

Happened to go thru a post by Neeti Kaushik on the Internet. She was talking of the 4 habits that generally people who are happy follow. I found it to be very practical and important. They are

1.  Happy people generally ignore nonsense and do not follow up with it for personal gains or reputation

2. Happy people generally are found to talk very less, appreciating others, finding positive things in others.

3. Happy people find satisfaction in learning new skills, gaining knowledge every now and then  

4. Happy people are generally found to help other people who are less fortunate by their words, actions or wealth. 

Here  is an interesting Forbes article (click here) that tells us how one can be happy in life. Keeping oneself physically fit by doing enough physical exercises and mentally fit by practicing meditation is also a key element to being happy.

Happiness is thus not about what makes you rich and famous, but it is what makes you contented, when you have done your small bit to make others happy, satisfied, to ease the pain and suffering around you and finally DOING MORE OF IT ..  

Let us remain useful to others, now, tomorrow and at all times..

George ..