Happy Or Useful

Happy? Happiness? What is it exactly? Is it just having fun or spreading joy to the people around us? On another hand, is being useful better than being happy? To be honest, let's just say I was dumbstrucked by this question, which I believe this is the exact state you are right now. I must say this question is practically the chicken and egg question. Which comes first? The egg? Or the chicken? No one probably has that answer. Oh well, maybe one or two but still. 

Let's break things out. Happiness is a blessing. To be happy is what every individual should aim for in his/her life. Just because what's the point in earning big bucks when you're all alone, sad and lonely. That, I agree. However, happiness is no longer a top priority when you neglect the people around you. Their emotions. Their feelings. Their self-esteems. Happiness will not last long that way because no one likes it when your friends start to distance from you gradually. Isn't it? Being happy is important but being happy to brighten up someone's day is even more important. 

Wait...doesn't this bring up another problem? How do you become happy when you are so busy making someone else's day? And this leads us to our second question. Being useful is indeed advantageous to the people around us and the society we are in. Being useful shows that you have a talent in something which another person might not have. However, at the end of the day, almost everyone is doing things for their own benefits. At the same time, while you're too busy helping and contributing to others, you start to forget about something. If you're on the right track, it's likely you'll know what you've forgotten. Especially if you've been in this situation. That's right. Bingo. 

Yourself. You've forgotten about yourself while being too busy over others' issues. There will be such situations that we cannot avoid but we can set priorities. Being useful while being happy. It's true that when you help others, you get that sense of joy too but there's one thing you need to understand — Sometimes, it's good to be on the receiving end at times so that it isn't just a 'giving' thing and instead, it's a 'giving and taking' thing. To love and do something for yourself while loving others because it's impossible to learn to love the people around you when you are unable to love yourself. And that's how you obtain happiness brought by others when they help you too just like how you do. Being useful and being happy.

There is a quote I know of, 'The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well'. 

Even with this quote, I still can't quite conclude which is a more important factor but one thing I know for sure is that while being useful and leading a good life, it's important to take a step back and see the bigger picture. That's when you know a little fairy powder has been added to your life. Having the best of both worlds is never possible but isn't it simply life? :-)

Best Of Luck

Priscilla