A Womans World: Idea of Happiness.

I love Van She's song "The idea of Happiness" but whenever I listen to it I am always finding myself pondering what I consider to be my "idea of happiness." These thoughts consume my mind until I have lost all meaning of what happiness means to me. This idea of happiness has become an overused term in our society although it can be found in a variety of different things, places, people and thoughts. What makes one person happy, is and will be different to the next. Throughout the years I have seemed to struggle and am always being contested with what is ultimately going to make me most happy in life.

When I used to think what would be my idea of happiness certain images came to mind. I thought of having a massive walk-in wardrobe in the best house, the latest bag, a high powered job in Sydney and ultimately that would make up my happiness. When I have finally achieved all these things, I would be happy. Right? Wrong. I don't have a job, I don't have a walk-in wardrobe, I don't have any of those things but I am still wondering should I still want that? Should I want all those things because that's what we're supposed to want out of life isn't it? Should that still be my idea of happiness? So many people base their life around these material possessions that I am left to think that our possessions are what shapes us and defines our emotions.

Having recently got back from travelling the world my mind is open to the simple things in life. Having no plan and no real place to go was a foreign and unknown place for me. I hated not having a plan, not knowing what I was going to do next with my life but this has pushed me into transforming and really shaping my new concept of happiness. I saw some of the poorest people, in the poorest countries, struggling to work all year, with nothing to their name but their family and the place they live, yet they were some of the happiest people I have ever met. I realised that this life isn't about having all those material possessions, it's not all about what job you have and if you're the best at what you do. Life needs to be enjoyed and expressed in it's simplest form.

One of these simple pleasures is love. Love can make you feel on top of the world, it makes you feel whole and wanted and loved and needed. When you've found the right kind of love it won't become old and tiring like your once new handbag will. You don't have to upgrade it every six months or sell it on ebay so you can afford whatever has become better than that. A deep love is an eternal love. My whole vision and idea of happiness changed when I discovered how fulfilling it can be to have someone that you can relate too and enjoy. Doing nothing is a new pleasure. But I do understand that your life can't be fulfilled though just love alone, to some extent we all need to want to exceed and do better and be better in what we do, this makes us human after all.

But I have now realised that I can't get sucked in to the conventional way of thinking what happiness is. That's what I used to do and it just made me unsettled with the amazing things that I had in life at the time. I looked past everything that was amazing now so I could live in what I could have instead of what I already have. So once in a while look outside, look around at the things, the people and the beauty around you. De-clutter your life, get rid of all the material possessions that clutter your thoughts and live with life's basics, be happy with you, now. And don't get me wrong, you can buy things that make you happy. I am so happy when I purchase a new bag or high heels but it is a short lived happiness, one that disappears after that first wear. It's not an eternal happiness that burns deep down inside you, making you feel alive. That feeling you can only get when you're truly satisfied at who you are and who you've become and realise that all those "things" don't define you, can't shape your happiness and really just don't matter.

Live simply. Live your life the way that makes you happy, because the best things in life are free.