For some people, it may be obvious that happiness is something that can really only be found internally. For most others, there may be some nagging suspicion that this may be true, yet we still spend our lives chasing happiness externally. If that is the case, there must be something more to it.
Can we really find happiness externally?
When we talk about finding happiness externally, this usually entails focussing our efforts towards making more money, houses, cars, being able to buy nice things, eating well, vacations, and living a luxurious lifestyle. We seek these things because it makes us feel better. It makes us feel successful, and in many cases, it makes us feel like we are validated by our peers, friends, and family. In a sense, there is some amount of social and self-valuation involved.
For most people, it may be hard to think about happiness in non-material ways if their daily, basic needs can’t be relatively easily met. It’s difficult to imagine someone who may be struggling with finances to be happy, likewise with someone who has a turbulent relationship with their family. To some degree, at least, external factors and material gains contribute quite a lot to our happiness; or at least to our sense of well-being. Without a sense of well-being, happiness is just a far-off concept.
For most, there is some amount of happiness that can be achieved through material gains, but happiness also is a little more complicated than that. This is why for most of us, the chase for material gain can often lead to disappointment and dissatisfaction. Meaning, even when we have achieved some measure of material and external success, we may still feel unsatisfied and unhappy. This can lead to a situation where we end up chasing our own tail, doing the same things, gaining more, but feeling farther away from any sense of happiness.
Learning how to find contentment and satisfaction with our lives is necessary while we maintain a certain level of external and material success. Regardless of how well we do in our lives, there is some measure of introspection and self-reflection that must happen in order for us to find that contentment and satisfaction. Practices like mindfulness and gratitude can also help to cultivate a sense of well-being and happiness from within.
Gratitude is appreciating the things we have in our life, regardless of how small they may seem; and mindfulness is the practice of being present and attention in the many moments of our daily life. Gratitude and mindfulness are two useful and important practices that allow us to focus on the positive aspects of our life and can allow us to respond to experiences in a more intentional and meaningful way.
While happiness does require looking inwards for it, for many of us, it may require a balance between ensuring we are able to find some measure of material success before we are able to look inwards and appreciate ourselves and our lives. We just have to learn how to do it as we move through our lives.
Join us at College of Allied Educators to learn more about how you can overcome your disappointments, fears, and setbacks. Take control of your life and find your success and happiness.
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Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (PGDICP) is a counselling psychology course accredited by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC). The part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology programme focuses on developing and enhancing experiential knowledge and skills through a holistic approach. Some of the subjects covered include Counselling Children, Addiction Intervention, Crisis Intervention, and Family Therapy. - ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY
Advanced Diploma in Counselling Psychology (ADICP) trains students to apply appropriate counselling skills in different situations while understanding their underlying theories. The ADICP programme introduces students to the nature of psychology and relates it to the theories and concepts of counselling. Students move on to explore themselves in order to promote personal growth and self-awareness, acquiring the key attributes of a competent counsellor and the proper methods of applying those skills. - DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY
Diploma in Counselling Psychology (DCPSY) is a counselling course covering a range of conceptual and functional skills in counselling. It trains students to apply appropriate counselling psychology skills in different situations, and equips students with the ability to work effectively as a counsellor.
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