Happiness: A thing of the Mind

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In most of my recent writeups, you will notice my childhood experiences always pop up one way or another. I had a very exciting childhood, and sincerely, as funny as the “adulthood na scam” thing might sound, it’s actually a bitter reality. If someone told me while I was young that I’d ever need to worry about life on my own, I’d probably twist my nose in mockery (or “yinmu”). Well, the jokes are on me now! Happiness as a child was dependent on goodies from parents and all adults in general, being the first in class, participating in activities alongside my peers, playing games, etc. Life was so easy! We really need to find the person who invented adulthood!

Staying happy as an adult wasn’t an easy discovery for me. I call it a discovery because I wasn’t always the happy type. As early as 19 years of age, adulthood was already at my door! With several challenges, I needed to sort out on my own! Then afterwards came the thing called independence—a bitter concoction life gave me to swallow! It took so long to understand taking responsibility, footing bills, and the other things attached. Putting all these together with the Nigerian situation in the past and worse in the present, how can one find happiness constantly?

One of the things I cherish is peace of mind, and what brings this is counting my achievements and believing that I will be a better person tomorrow. I have a list of things I plan on achieving on a daily basis, and I make sure to tick off more than 50% of my to-do list. Besides this method, I try as much as possible to avoid troublemakers, and when I see I have to deal with one, I make sure I deal with them thoroughly to my satisfaction. In addition, money or materials have never been my source of joy (absence or presence can increase or reduce joy, but it has never been the source). Although I would love to have some good cash, I am content with what I have while I make efforts to get better. I have the policy of comparing my past with my present and constantly making sure that my present state is better than my past. I rejoice with my friends and family on big achievements, and they do the same when it’s my turn. I have never had the cause to compare myself to anyone, and this really makes my happiness guaranteed. I have seen lots of people get restless and eventually get into trouble just because they want to have something someone else has. I believe the best way to get into trouble is to compare and not learn! If I see something I like in you, I’ll ask you to teach me how I can get mine, not start coveting and activating ‘operation by all means!’

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I believe happiness is a thing of the mind because I have been privileged to stay with people who are stinkingly rich, and I have discovered that even those we consider people with zero money problems have other problems. Sometimes it’s fear that makes them sad; other times it's not knowing who truly loves them, and there are many other things one can’t even imagine. Even with these, I still desire to be excessively rich. But till I attain my desired level of riches, my peace of mind remains intact! I have no grudge, no fight against no one and I am confident tomorrow will be better than today as I make efforts.