Few goals seem more important in life than the so-called pursuit of happiness. But in this world of constant distractions and quick fixes, finding your way to it seems more complicated than ever. It is easy to fall into the temptation of seeking superficial satisfaction instead of authentic happiness. Money, professional success or idyllic relationships are presented as the true solution to the question, where is happiness?
But… What would happen if the key to happiness was not in what the world can give us, but in something that already resides in us? Arthur Schopenhauer, one of the most influential philosophers of the 19th century, He left us his own answer to this ancient question in the form of a phrase that will help you find your own path to happiness. Do you dare to try to explore it?
Schopenhauer and the search for happiness
Schopenhauer was called the “philosopher of pessimism” and yet He is one of the great minds we all turn to when faced with big questions. about authentic happiness. How is it possible that the man who denied that absolute happiness existed is one of the great references on this topic?
This is probably because, unlike other thinkers of his time, Schopenhauer did not believe that happiness could be found in the achievement of material desires or social well-being.. Time, as we now know, proved him right.
For him, Suffering was a constant inherent to human existenceand the path to true happiness was not through the avoidance of pain, but through a deep acceptance that it is part of human nature.
One of the pillars of his thought was “will”, understood as that irrational and blind force that moves us human beings. Not only towards desires, but also towards suffering. For Schopenhauer, the will is the driving force of life, although it is also a condemnation to eternal dissatisfaction. The more we try to satisfy those desires, the more we become trapped in an endless chain of unfulfilled longings.
In this context, we find in the work of the philosopher of pessimism a phrase that, quite possibly, resonates with everyone who reads it. “It is difficult to find happiness within yourself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.” The challenge is clear: achieving inner peace is complicated, but true happiness can only be found within each of us.
Why is it so difficult to find happiness in yourself?
Searching for happiness within oneself, as Schopenhauer proposes, is a challenge that very few dare to face. Most people tend to look outward for satisfaction, whether through professional success, social status or consumerism.. These external factors may provide some short-term gratification, but they will never give us true happiness. But why is it so difficult to find happiness within yourself?
First of all, we must attribute it to the fact that self-knowledge is a complex task. Knowing our true nature requires very deep work of introspection, that can reveal aspects of ourselves that we are not always prepared to accept. On many occasions, emotions such as insecurity, anxiety or resentment push us to avoid facing what is raging inside us. We are afraid to discover what is there.
To this we must add something that Schopenhauer did not have to face: the frenetic pace of modern society. Social pressure, the constant comparison with others thanks to social networks, and a society that bombards us with the idea that we should be happy all the time. One that assures us that our worth depends on what we have or what others think of us.
But even though Schopenhauer didn’t have to deal with comparing himself to his high school friends on Facebook, he knew that human nature is full of insatiable desires, a constant search to satisfy them in the outside world, which leads us to perpetual dissatisfaction. And in his philosophy we find some advice to redirect our search for happiness in the right direction.
Applying Schopenhauer’s philosophy
Schopenhauer’s philosophy, although profound and challenging, offers valuable tools to apply in our daily lives that can help us find true happiness. If we accept its premise that happiness cannot be found outside, how then can we look for it within ourselves? Here we leave you some ideas to do it.
Practice self-acceptance
Accept who you are, with your virtues and defects. True happiness only comes when we stop fighting against our nature and allow ourselves to be authentic. Recognizing your limitations and embracing them will allow you to be at peace with who you are, avoiding that cycle of dissatisfaction that causes us to try to be something we are not.
Reflect and meditate every day
Dedicate time each day to disconnect from the external chaos and get in touch with your inner world. Meditation can become a powerful tool to calm the mind and reduce external noisethus facilitating introspection.
If you use these moments, in addition, to reflect on your thoughts and emotionsyou will begin to better understand what you really need to be happy.
Reduces attachment to material desires
Avoid falling into the trap of pursuing happiness through material things. External goods and achievements will never offer you satisfaction durable that you need to feel truly happy.
Instead, try practicing gratitude with what you already haveto be content with what life has given you. This way you will let yourself focus on what you don’t have or what you want to obtain, but on what you have achieved.
Give up insatiable desire
Schopenhauer claimed that constant desire is the main cause of suffering. If you don’t learn to control it, you will end up moving away from that inner peace. And it’s not about eliminating all the desires that appear in your mind, but about finding balance and not letting yourself be consumed by them. This will allow you to free up mental space to enjoy the present and reduce anxiety about achieving more.
If you were interested in this article and would like to receive more about a healthy lifestyle, join the Bodymente WhatsApp channel.
Download the free ebook «Anti-inflammatory Recipes» and start your anti-inflammatory meal plan today with this exclusive content.