The True Secret of Having a Happy and Good Life

This is my confession: Before I started writing on this platform, even though I felt pretty happy, there was this nagging emptiness. It seemed like something was still missing in my life. I always tried to live a good life, be a better person, and stay productive, but I knew deep down that I was capable of so much more than what I was doing back then. I’ve always loved writing (I even had a blog once, but I kind of abandoned it when my focus shifted). I always have so much to say in my mind. I thought to myself, “This is it, I need to write again, no matter what!”. So, just like a prophet who just got a revelation from God, I opened my laptop, created an account, and started writing. Honestly, it’s one of the best choices I’ve made. Sure, I want people to read my stuff and think it’s decent (I’m just being real here), but that’s not my main goal. What really matters to me is feeling complete and content with myself by doing something good. Writing pushes me to read more books, and through reading, I get to learn what’s good and bad. Then, I try to evolve into a better person every day. So, it’s way more than just writing, it’s got so much more depth!

Recently, I read a book, “Focus on What Matters,” by Darius Foroux. These sentences speak to my heart. He said the secret to living a happy, energetic, and good life is to engage in the activities that we love and bring fulfillment and joy to enrich our lives. That is also one of the key principles of Stoicism. Once, Seneca told us to do something that will enrich our lives, and to give our full focus on it. By this, he’s trying to say that just focus on it, then we will see that it will lead us to good things in life, and finally, we will get all the fulfillment and happiness in the world.

Sounds easy to say, right? But I know it’s tough these days, since we live in a modern world that is full of shiny stuff. Money, fame, fancy cars, mansions, lifestyle, number of followers/subscribers, or maybe a blue check mark. Seeking people’s validation brutally hits us in our daily lives. But the truth is, if we let all that stuff distract us, we’ll never really feel happy and satisfied with our lives. Sure, we might feel a quick burst of happiness, but it won’t stick around. Don’t focus on chasing rewards and seeking validations if we dream of having a happy, energetic, and good life.

Seeking recognition can distract us from what actually matters: the inner strength and self-reliance that come from real skill, discipline, and purpose. That is something that we should focus on is our actions that will lead us the good things. And the real reward is the energy and pride we feel from achieving something through our own actions. When we do something we think we’re good at, there’s this urge to be the best. That is a good thing; it helps us improve every single day. Sure, being the best means can be linked with fame, right? But here’s the thing, even if we’re the best but don’t get the fame, so what?? Seneca reminds us that it’s not a problem, being the best at something doesn’t need to come with applause, followers/subscribers, money, or fame. What matters is that we get the skill and strength to live our lives. It’s more valuable than it. Having the ability to cope with life, think clearly, work smart, and stay grounded is a treasure that lasts longer than money or status. Fame can fade. Money can disappear. But a well-trained mind and steady character? Those are assets no one can take from you.

I get it, there are times when it feels we’re not good enough because nobody’s noticing our hard work, and that’s totally normal. We’re human! We might think that we will give up, but let’s remember, it’s not really about being seen anymore; it’s about staying strong in doing something that is good and enriches our lives. It’s about living well, with integrity, even when no one’s watching. If we’ve honed our skills, built our minds, or pushed through tough times with grace, we’ve already earned something priceless, whether the world notices or not.

“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
— Seneca

Love,

Kirana