The Condition of Happiness

This week we want to debunk the myth that happiness should be earned through hard work and the attainment of perfection.

HOW DOES BEING HAPPY, AND PUTTING CONDITIONS ON WHEN WE’RE ALLOWED TO FEEL HAPPY, RELATE TO DOING THE GOOD FAIL?

As millennials we feel the pressure to be meeting certain milestones and to be our best selves ALL of the time. There’s no set path to follow, no clear advice to guarantee success and, in our experience, little tutors or mentors can say to help as the job landscape has changed so quickly since “their time”.

WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR US JUST TO BE HAPPY?

Because we’re having to promote ourselves, not our work anymore. It’s about who we are as an aspiration, not a reality. We are having to ask ourselves, who am I as a brand?

UNDERSTANDABLY THIS MAKES US FEEL WHAT?

Not good! Like anxiety ridded wrecks! It’s all about the hustle these days. And doing the hustle might have positive connotations but more often then not leaves us feeling stressed and cranky! Always telling ourselves we just need one big break and then we’ll be happy forever. This is what we mean by putting conditions on our happiness.

IN THAT CASE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE HAPPY EVER AGAIN?

Yes, we believe so! It is definitely possible to be happy but it’s okay to not be happy ALL of the time. You don’t have to always be making the MOST of EVERYTHING! That would just be exhausting! We don’t have to be our best selves all the time.

WHAT CAN WE CONCLUDE FROM ALL THIS?

Let’s not put pressure on ourselves to feel a certain way at a certain time when certain things align in our favour. If we give ourselves permission to be happy less, we might actually be happy more often.

WHAT’S OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS WEEK?

@i_weigh on Instagram

Founded by Jameela Jamil, it’s a social media page with a message. This page will make you feel less ashamed of being not so much of a brand and much more of a human.

WHAT’S UP IN OUR NEXT EPISODE?

This is actually the last episode of series 1 and we’ll be taking a short break over Christmas. But we’ll be back in the New Year so stay tuned.

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