Why do we chase happiness when all we really need is to practice it?
Most of us have been subtly conditioned to believe that happiness is the result of achievement.
The media repeatedly tells us that once we reach a certain level of success—money, recognition, status, or lifestyle—we will finally feel fulfilled.
So we chase bigger goals, bigger milestones, and bigger outcomes.
Yet the question remains: does it actually make us happy?
Over time, I’ve come to realize that happiness does not come from achieving big things. And because of this, I no longer feel the pressure to chase happiness in the future. I believe you don’t need to either.
Happiness Is Not an Achievement.
Happiness is not a destination—it is a state of being. It comes from embodiment, not accomplishment. It is an effect of how we live, not what we attain.
In this sense, happiness is a practice. Something to cultivate, refine, and return to again and again.
Money certainly plays an important role in the modern world. It is a central node in a system that runs on exchange and value. But money is a tool, not a purpose. It flows naturally from value creation.
And value creation requires inner stability. An unhappy person cannot truly solve problems for others. This is why happiness must come before external validation, not after it.
When happiness depends on approval, comparison, or recognition, it becomes fragile. Real happiness has to be internally generated.
Happiness Comes From Embodiment.
If happiness is a practice, the real question becomes: how do we practice it?
Do we need to achieve something extraordinary before we allow ourselves to feel alive?
I believe happiness is a shift in emotional state—when life feels vivid, present, and grounded. This shift comes far more from embodiment than from success.
To experience it, we must understand the rhythm of our mind and body. Life becomes easier when we design it from first principles rather than external expectations.
This way of living aligns closely with the principle of wu wei—the idea of neither forcing nor resisting life, but flowing with it. Wu wei is not passivity; it is alignment.
The Role of Rhythm
I have noticed that I feel happiest when I live in harmony with my natural rhythm.
This means:
- consistent sleep
- clean, nourishing food
- regular movement
- meaningful work
- connection with loved ones
- exposure to sunlight
- limited screen time
- simplicity
These are not luxuries. They are fundamental human needs.
A life that violates these basics will never offer lasting happiness, no matter how impressive or attractive it appears from the outside.
Conclusion: Playing the Infinite Game.
Happiness emerges when we align with the fundamental needs of the human body and mind. Growth that respects this alignment is slower—but far more meaningful and joyful.
When we live this way, we play an infinite game. We don’t delay happiness until a future achievement. We live as though we have already arrived at what truly matters.
Handing over our right to be happy to other people’s validation only creates unnecessary suffering.
Happiness is a fundamental human right. It may be influenced by money, but it is never dependent on it. We deserve to be happy even if we never achieve what society calls “big success.”
So forget what the media portrays as success. Focus on the fundamentals. They are the real foundation of lasting happiness.
Life, after all, is a complex system of interconnected nodes—and when the foundation is aligned, the whole system flourishes.