I think I’m right in saying that we all crave only one thing: happiness! But achieving this joyful feeling can sometimes be so difficult, isn’t it?
We all experience it at some point, even if only temporarily: we enjoy beautiful weather, a successful career, harmonious relationships, we feel joy when we exercise and lose weight, when something exciting is coming our way. It even happens that all of these things happen to us simultaneously, and then we feel absolutely on cloud nine… well, at least for a moment.
Happiness shouldn’t be a temporary phenomenon.
And then the weather suddenly turns bad, you start gaining weight again, you lose your job, you break up with your loved one—it’s a real rough patch in your life. And when things don’t turn out the way we wanted, when external circumstances change, our happiness quickly gives way to the exact opposite.
And so we try to cling to this pleasant feeling with all our might: we go on vacation to better weather, buy ourselves something to lift our spirits, watch that crappy TV just to distract ourselves. What’s new on this or that person’s social media page becomes incredibly important to us. So we ride the waves of life, trying to reach our desired shore.
All of this ingrains us deep in our subconscious, prompting us to constantly compare ourselves to others and desire something more. But this constant desire wears us down day after day; we always feel like our current situation isn’t good enough and that something else is missing for happiness. So we get stuck in this eternal “want.”
Take back control of the situation
There’s a lot in life beyond our control: we can’t control other people, it’s hard to find a job that suits us perfectly, and the weather isn’t exactly cooperative. Ideal circumstances are often unattainable, and even if they are, they’re fickle. And if we choose unattainable, fickle circumstances as the source of happiness, then it will truly remain something completely unattainable.
But the goal isn’t to create a perfect world around us, but to see the positive in circumstances we define as obstacles, and then learn to gratefully accept change, pain, discomfort, and fear, and embrace the unknown. After all, these are our best teachers in accepting and being humble about what we cannot change.
The secret to happiness is meditation
Once you begin to understand that everything you see and hear, what you fill your body with, and who and what you surround yourself with has a profound impact on your life, you’re ready to make changes, not just talk about your problems. Meditation practice or Yoga Exercises truly teaches you how to cope with these states, control the flow of negative thoughts, and be present in the here and now. Meditation is a path of sorts leading to patience and acceptance of what hinders us so much in life.
You’ll agree that when we’re on the verge of nervous exhaustion from endless traffic jams or snapping at a friend who’s 15 minutes late, we only continue to drive ourselves into chaos. Instead, we can work on not letting external circumstances determine our happiness. Life is full of a thousand things that cannot be changed, so it makes sense to learn the art of acceptance and letting go. To experience true happiness, even in less-than-ideal circumstances, we need to let go and return to the moment.
We are already lucky to live the way we live, so let’s be grateful for it and try to change something for the better.
Last Update: January 15, 2026
#About Author#
Written by Dr. Ashish Sharma, MBBS.MBBS graduate (Karaganda Medical University) and FMGE-qualified physician with completed internship at Rajeev Gandhi Government General Hospital, Alwar.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general educational and awareness purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.