It can be hard working towards a better self and a better world. So much can get in the way, and the faster life gets, the more finding a quiet moment to oneself slips away. But once the realization occurs that anything is better than struggling a little more each day, we begin to see that the key to happiness is in our hands. And that’s not a bad thought.
It’s the realization part that can be tricky, though. We can circle around an idea for years without seeing how we have the power to affect positive change, and that we’ve had it all along. Bills, life partners, and careers can cause us to look for happiness outside ourselves in the things that are troubling us.
The heart of the matter is that happiness comes from within, and that can only happen when we are fulfilled and content. It comes from doing good work, and knowing we’re a part of making that feeling happen for others, as well. By actively working on a sustainable future where everyone thrives, we pay it forward in ways that cannot be counted and gift a better, freer, more peaceful future for all.
But it’s a journey, not a destination, in the same way that happiness is a feeling, not a commodity. By being a positive part of something larger than ourselves, we take in all that’s best about others as they are in the moment. We become better people by realizing the global dream of harmony together, uniquely, by walking the path in hope and respect for each other. And, by making our lives lighter, we lessen the burden for everyone else at the same time.
Creating world peace—and the optimism and hard work that goes along with it—becomes the happiness we were seeking in the first place. It’s not so much that we do good work, it’s that we are able to do it. Opportunities to affect positive change often come up in life, but seeing them, and being grateful to be a part of them, is where miracles happen. It allows for global solutions, meaningful personal growth, and for communities to grow towards even brighter tomorrows.
Whirled Peas 