In life, there are countless ways to arrive at an answer, but the real challenge lies in asking the right question. One question that has troubled humanity for centuries is: How do we get rid of unhappiness?
But before we address that, we must ask: Who is the person that is unhappy?
Think about it—why are you unhappy? In my opinion, unhappiness often stems from the fact that the choices we think we’ve made are not truly our own.
Let’s take a simple example: watching a movie. You might believe it was your choice to watch it, but was it really? The director’s vision, the scriptwriter’s story, even the invention of the camera—all these external factors influenced your decision. Due to a lack of self-knowledge, we often mistake our actions as choices we consciously made. And when things go wrong—when the movie turns out bad or fails to meet our expectations—we feel unhappy.
On the other hand, if a choice is genuinely ours, unhappiness loses its grip. When a decision is purely your own, the concepts of “good” and “bad” no longer matter because the choice was made by you.
This leads us to the first and most critical step: Who is ME?
This is why spirituality emphasizes self-knowledge. Knowing yourself, observing your thoughts, or simply becoming aware of your inner being—it doesn’t matter what you call it. The moment you truly understand yourself, you are free. Free from the chains of external influences, free from unhappiness.
Practical Techniques to Know Yourself
There are many paths to self-awareness, and different methods work for different people. Here are a few you can try:
- Play with Children
Spend time with kids and observe them. They are pure and unfiltered, untouched by the layers of societal conditioning. Watching them can be like looking into a mirror—a reflection of humanity in its truest form. - Write
Put your thoughts down on paper. Writing allows you to observe your mind from a distance, helping you untangle and understand your thoughts. - Meditate
Sit quietly and let your thoughts flow. Watch them as if they’re scenes in a movie, but don’t immerse yourself in the story. Detach and simply observe. - Explore Other Techniques
The list doesn’t end here. The technique you choose doesn’t matter as long as it brings you closer to self-awareness.
The Key Takeaway
Happiness isn’t about avoiding challenges or ensuring that everything goes well. It’s about making choices that are authentically yours and embracing them fully. When you align your life with the “ME” within, external circumstances lose their power to dictate your state of mind.
