Peace or Happiness - Part I

While we chase happiness as the ultimate destination, it’s often the journey of life that is overlooked by many...

Isn’t it ironic that the pursuit of happiness often causes unhappiness for some? How can the need to feel happy lead to more unhappiness? In a time when you can find everything under the sun at the click of a button, happiness and eventually, peace, remains as elusive as ever.

Peace is a state of mind. If we are peaceful, we can be happy.

John was a motivated student who grew up to excel in almost everything. He always told himself he’d be truly happy once he bagged his dream job and house. His career witnessed an upward climb when he landed a profile with one of the topmost tech firms in the world. He earned a handsome package that always had a visible increase every year. During his 10 years of tenure as a professional, John always thought he’d achieve true happiness with his next promotion, the next profile change or the next job. While he had almost everything he wanted, a void formed within. Years flew by. Happiness still seemed a distant dream despite John having succeeded in almost everything. Worse still, he eventually lost his peace as the void grew larger.

• What is happiness?
• How do you define happiness?
• Do you relate with John?

Many define happiness as -

• I’ll be truly happy when I join my dream firm.
• I’ll be happy when I find love.
• I’ll be extremely happy when I buy my house
• I’ll be happy only when I am a parent
• I’ll find peace and happiness once I earn enough money/power

We think money, power, job titles can bring us happiness. And, this creates the illusion that we’ll ultimately find peace.

Success + Happiness does not equal to Peace.

But, happiness is hard to measure. Nor, can you define it. It is often considered synonymous with achieving peace. The science of happiness is not a “one-size-fits-all” strategy. And with the growing pressure of “staying happy” via social media sites, our minds struggle to breathe in and connect with the moment. We want instant gratification. The rush to be happy has caused many to lose their peace. And, what happens when we don’t feel happy? We do lose our peace.

Happiness is like chasing a butterfly. The more you chase it, the further it will go. The day you sit still, you might find it resting on your shoulder. When you least expect it to. Happiness is something that can transpire when we are least looking for it.

So, why are we losing sleep over happiness? Are we too focused on the destination? Why are we losing our peace of mind without enjoying the journey of life?

All I want is some peace! And, maybe a little happiness.

It’s not only joy that we should seek. Because happiness is dependent on so many factors - external as well as internal. While we cannot control what happens around us, we can certainly control how we react to things. And, that is what brings us peace. Leading to, happiness.

When Peace can often be a misconstrued concept

Inner peace comes from within. Our search for peace is eternal but we often lose the meaning along the way. We believe we’ll find happiness and thus peace when we -

1. Find the next lucrative job offer
2. Have ‘enough’ money
3. Hold positions that wield power
4. Begin a relationship

We struggle with the concepts of money, power, and success considering this is synonymous with happiness and happiness is ultimately peace.

Success + Happiness does not equal to Peace.

Why Peace must be your Ultimate Goal

Attaining peace gives you the ability to remain calm in every situation without losing that joyful streak in you. It might seem like a lofty goal, but this is totally attainable for all. If you are in a leadership role, you can work hard and still be at peace. You might be chasing impossible goals. Even when things do not go in your favor, you will find a sense of harmony and well-being. Thus, being the true leader you are meant to be.

So, what does inner peace actually mean?

1. Being peaceful mentally and spiritually
2. Decluttering thoughts
3. Feeling quiet and serene despite circumstances
4. Deep connection with self

Is the path to inner peace a complicated one? No, not really. In our next blog, we’ll take a look at the 5 mantras you’ll need to practice inner peace.

WRITTEN BY

Dr. Paras

ICF-certified (Master Certified Coach) and ESIA -Coach Supervisor Dr. Paras, and Co-Founder of Dr Paras Wellness Pvt. Ltd. with brand Matrrix has been focused towards initiating change and transformation in people. As a certified Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner and Mindfulness Coach, he brings a fresh approach towards learning the psychology of one’s thinking and behavior patterns. In his 18 years’ journey, he has trained, coached and mentored over 1.5 lakh individuals while certifying over 240 coaches. The leadership development programs of Matrrix have honed over hundreds of professionals while resolving workplace issues and ensuring higher ROI for firms.

Dr. Paras uses the power of coaching, counseling and positive psychology frameworks to resolve organizational issues, manage internal conflicts, and accelerate business growth. His programs for professional certifications in NLP, Mindfulness, Counseling, Coaching, and more have solidified his name as a transformation coach. Dr. Paras is also the founder of the Iinner Universe Education Foundation that runs Tava-Mitram (not-for-profit) to improve emotional wellness. He is also an avid blogger and social media enthusiast who loves keeping in touch with his international audience.

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