Many people believe that when you appreciate the small items in life, you are well on your way to being happy. But… what is happiness?
Most emotions are transitional, meaning, you are never in one state for long periods.
People who are considered upbeat will have moments of sadness or depression and even depressed people will have moments of happiness, too.
Think about a major event such as a war. When two countries are fighting, both sides lose lives. It is bloody, stressful, nerve shattering, and it can last for several years. But, once the war is over, the countries are elated. There will be no more bloodshed because of the war, and people can return to their homes.
However, think about it, there is nothing that has changed in the world with the exception that the war has ended. In other words, the sun still sets each day. People still must manage their lives. The elation from the war ending does not last long. Months later, the war is still over, but the euphoria has died down.
The same is true in a smaller way when you have a bad sickness. Say you have a stomach bug that leaves you uncomfortable and in pain. Once the bug passes, and you are better, you feel wonderful. However, you do not feel any better than you did before you were experiencing the bug. It is relative to the bad feelings. That is how emotional states work. They go from one to the other on a constant basis.
Appreciating the small things in life may lead to happiness. But it is likely you are content more than you are happy. Contentment can almost be thought of as a neutral state, leaning on the side of happy. There is not anything wrong when you are content but there also is not anything that is making you overly happy.
There may be too much pressure striving for happiness when you should be striving for contentment. The good news is your appreciation for small aspects of your life will lead to contentment without having to worry about trying to make yourself happy all the time. Those times will occur naturally.
If you spend most of your life content, you are doing something right. Think about all the people you love and what you have, such as your health and a good job, etc. If you try to imagine life without them, you will truly appreciate your contentment. Who knows, that thought may even make you happy for a short period.
