The state of happiness is the highest state of being on this earth. The whole concept of success is premised on happiness; happiness is thus what we all sought to achieve. Take some time and think about it; whatever state you are now or whatever you are doing now is based on happiness. You wake up every morning to work because you believe it will make you happy; you are going to school because you believe it will make you happy; you are getting married and having children because you believe it will make you happy; etc. Everything you do is premised on happiness.
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I have a friend who believed having more money is equivalent to happiness. Due to his humble background and his inability to secure a lucrative job since graduating from university, he wanted money very badly that he complains of his lack of money every single time we discuss. So one day, I offered him a million naira for his two eyes. He definitely understood my incessant advice that having more money will never make him happier; it will only put him in a temporary state of happiness. It is this temporary state of happiness that we all unconsciously strive for.
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Imagine Olu who has been looking for a job and finally cinched one in a bank. He was so happy that he did thanksgiving and gave testimony in the church. He told everybody and they rejoiced with him. Three months later, Olu was very sad and dejected even sadder than when he did not have a job. Why? He could not meet one-quarter the target that was set for him and he may possibly get sacked. He was so sad that he developed migraine and his blood level was so high. The same job that made him happy is the same job that is killing him.
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Olu’s case is not really abnormal; it’s what we all experience in one given field of life or the other be it marriage, children, promotion at work, etc. our reference frame is thus defining happiness as getting what we want but getting what we want may further lead to unhappiness. This is a dichotomy of life. There is this funny culture from the United States where you struggle to get what you want and when you finally get it; you will be happy forever more: this state where you get what you want is called the American dream. The humorous side of this is that you will definitely wake up from such dreams.
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There is a video below. I want to share with you: Dan Gilbert – a Harvard psychologist challenges our beliefs on what will make us happy: He supports his premise with intriguing research. It is worth listening to and thinking over, then draw your conclusion;  Â
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August 21, 2008 at 12:28 pm (UTC 1)
Happiness is a choice—I chose to be HAPPY by being true to myself and the people arround me.
August 22, 2008 at 10:15 am (UTC 1)
Well spoken Dipo,
True happines is a product of joy and peace of mind-imparted at the new birth-and not an off shot of any material acquisition.
I can be dissatisfied and still happy with myself.
August 22, 2008 at 10:39 am (UTC 1)
Sorry! the system was trying to be funny, don’t know why
below is a continuation…
We should not mistake dissatisfaction with a given status quo of our lives for saddness.
Dissatisfaction begets desire for change while sadness begets depression.
I am dissatisfied with my present status quo but never sad cos the joy of the Lord is my strength and with that joy will I draw from the well of salvation according to scriptures.
Luv U!
August 23, 2008 at 8:27 pm (UTC 1)
@ royal_prince
thanks my brother.i’m doing just fine.been working on a business seminar on campus OAU,ife that finally held today.our very own Dipo tepede was one of the resource persons present and he spoke on entrepreneurship.it was tight.anyway,when your book is ready please let me know.
@ dipo,
what more can i say?thank you for coming,thank you for sharing with us,thank you for being a blessing.
this is just the beginning of greater things to come.
@ all,
don’t give up no your dreams!
August 26, 2008 at 1:16 pm (UTC 1)
thanks dipo.
happiness really lies within us. dealing with everyone in love and never being in anger promotes happiness. u will find happiness in the little things of life and sorrow mostly in the complicated ones.
monkey catchers in india have a fool proof method of inducing monkeys to the ground by nailing a coconut shell with a small opening on top to the ground along with candies inside it. the hole in the coconut shell is wide enough for the monkey to extricate its hand only if it releases the candy but they never do, but hold on to it until the inevitable end. most of us look for happiness in alluring articles whereas it is all around us only if we do not desperately seek it.
balogun