Your search for happiness is in temporary things, and you wonder why you aren’t happy. It feels good for a moment, and you think, “This could really be it this time.” You’ve found a new beginning, and sometimes starting over seems easier than sitting in the mess you’ve created, or the mess that’s found you. The promise of what could fill you with hope. The grass always seems greener on the other side. So you cross that picket fence with optimism in your eyes. “This is it. This is what I need to be happy.” You think you’ve finally found the answer.
What is the true meaning of happiness?
Happiness is in a new home. A new wardrobe. A new hairstyle. And for a moment, that’s true. But your wounds will always bleed until you give them the attention they need to heal. And that’s the real problem. You’re searching for happiness in temporary things. Happiness is a destination? No, happiness is a state of being. But we’ve lost sight of what it is to just be.
It’s too uncomfortable to sit with ourselves, so instead, we unpack somewhere else. And once that thing leaves or changes or its effect wears off, we find ourselves back at square one, only this time our home seems a little darker. Why? Because we took a chance and nothing changed. Something must be wrong with us then, right? No, there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re just building a home in everyone but yourself. But this life is temporary and when reality shatters your expectations, your home feels broken.
Wherever this life takes you, you’ll always have yourself. So cross back over that fence and take a good look around. What part of the home within you is inviting darkness? Open up those shades and welcome the light. See your situation for what it is and sit with that for a moment. Maybe someone hurt you. Maybe you hurt yourself.
It’s okay, we all make mistakes. But the beauty of life is that we are not seen for our mistakes, we are seen for our resilience. The home within us does not have to stay dark forever. Accept what is and rebuild what is no longer working. It’s okay to renovate and create a space you’ll want to live in forever.
Change isn’t beautiful. It’s painful. It’s hard work. It’s sacrifice. But once you’re done, you can take a step back and say, “I built that. I rose from the pain and what was meant to weaken me has become my biggest strength. I am healed…I am home.”
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