Going that extra mile to chase happiness

Surfing through social media, it is not unusual to encounter quotes about Monday morning blues, memes about short-lived weekends and the anxiety that the coming week brings with it. Each week is welcomed not with enthusiasm of a new start but with the regret of the bygone weekend. Every one of us seems to be waiting for something grand to touch our lives, to shake us out of our mundane existence. We have all become Vladimir and Estragon waiting for our version of Godot. Making note of extended weekends at the beginning of every year that would allow the miserable self to escape everyday drudgery.

It is not shocking that such a lifestyle has led to an increase in the number of depression patients. In a country like India, where anyone suffering from a psychological issue is termed ‘mad’, this is not good news. The rat race of a life led by the modern metropolitan youth is highly stressful. Striking a balance between one’s professional and social life is quite a task. Then there is the pressure to look and conduct the self in a certain way. To possess items that would qualify one as the elite in society. This sure leads to anxiety and declining mental health. We are so busy conforming to the standards of modern life that we are forgetting the most important thing — to be happy. Ask a person if s/he is happy and s/he will have to take a moment before an indefinite answer is given.

Happiness, it can be argued, is a short lived emotion. True, but that does not mean we should stop chasing it. In fact, that is what makes life worth living. We all have our share of miserable and depressing moments but these are the moments that become lessons for life. Despite being sad over a situation and ranting about it on social media, one has to stand up to it and take charge. If life gives us problems, it also gives us the solutions for which we only need to look closely.

It is not a bad idea to share your fears and apprehensions with friends but voicing these to multiple people will only lead to complicating the issues further. Sharing with a few close friends can facilitate solutions through genuine advice. It is only human to increasingly desire the unattainable, but it is not always futile to try and reach out to it. We must cultivate an environment that is conducive to a person’s mental wellbeing. So before we give up, let us go the extra mile and give happiness a chance.

Arshi Chauhan, M Phil student, Jamia Milia Islamia

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