Three Types of Happiness

Ancient Yoga writings tell of three types of happiness. Which type of happiness are you seeking? In the first type of happiness you increase the pleasures of life, such as eating delicious food and drink and buying new things. A great example is going on vacation! How much fun it is to be away from home and work, but in the end you have to pay the bill and return to everyday life. What begins in sweetness ends in bitterness.

The second type of happiness is seeking solace in all the wrong places—hanging with the wrong crowd and getting caught up in activities that you think will make you happy but which are only bringing you down. An example of this is addictions and other bad habits. There may be temporary relief from your troubles, but in the end they are still there. Going back again and again the cycle strengthens, sadness and loss increase. What begins in bitterness, also ends in bitterness, giving you a false sense of happiness.

The third type of happiness is different still: By seeking that which is lasting and fulfilling, you guarantee that happiness will blossom and grow within and around you. For example, when you go to college or pursue a trade, you put in a lot of hard work, but when you graduate you can be proud of your accomplishment. When you volunteer for an organization, you have to give up some time and conform to their guidelines, but the joy of helping others is wonderful. And when you commit to practice meditation or Yoga, you struggle to put it consistently in your schedule, but it becomes easy when you experience all the benefits. So this type of happiness can be bitter at first, but has the sweetest outcome.

Which type of happiness are you seeking?