"Ever notice how the harder you chase happiness, the more it seems to slip through your fingers? It's like trying to grab water. The tighter you squeeze, the less you hold onto. Yet here we are, constantly scrolling through social media for that next dopamine hit, buying things we don't need, or jumping from one relationship to another, all in this relentless pursuit of feeling good."
"During my warehouse days in my mid-20s, I spent countless lunch breaks diving into Eastern philosophy on my phone, desperately searching for answers to why I felt so empty despite supposedly having my life together. That's when I stumbled upon a Japanese concept that completely flipped my understanding of happiness. It's called ikigai, and it might just explain why our Western obsession with happiness is making us miserable."
Chasing happiness often backfires because happiness is fleeting, unpredictable, and the more it is pursued, the more anxious people become about losing it. Seeking quick dopamine from social media, consumer purchases, or serial relationships produces temporary highs that rapidly fade. Personal experience of emptiness despite outward stability led to exploring Eastern philosophy and uncovering a different approach: ikigai. Ikigai centers on a reason for being and meaningful daily engagement rather than treating happiness as the primary goal. Focusing on purpose-driven activities provides steadier fulfillment and lessens the frustration and transience associated with chasing pleasure.
Read at Silicon Canals
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