"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do is in harmony." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
I would like to go one step further and say: "Happiness is when what you feel, what you think, what you say and what you do is in harmony."
Some people may argue that there is no need to add "what you feel", but I think there is. There is a difference between feeling and thinking.
For example, I thought I wanted to be a travel writer, I said I would be a travel writer, and I wrote travel. By definition, I should have been happy. But it wasn't me.
Deep down, I didn't really want to be a travel writer, and my heart knew it. I liked writing and traveling, and my thinking brain put the two together to develop a career.
Last October I flew to Mexico with three of my best friends. I had a typing performance in my back pocket and I also had my own personal blog that I wanted to keep up to date. We would spend three months traveling from Mexico to Costa Rica, so I sure had a lot of material to write about.
But only two weeks after the start of the trip did I realize that I didn't like to write about my trips, especially while I was still on the road. I very much preferred to delve into the experience rather than having to step back from it to analyze and write about each experience.
It felt forced and unnatural. There was too much structure and time to let thoughts simmer in my head to make clear connections. Another disadvantage was that I had to spend time alone in cafes every morning to write.
This often resulted in me missing out on other great things my friends were doing. While we were in Guatemala, I even missed the opportunity to see a jaguar in a local sanctuary, a sight I really hoped for.
I soon gave up traveling and blogging efforts while on the go. I knew there would be a lot of time to write when I got home after I had time to digest everything.
I realized that something that makes sense in my head does not mean that it is what my heart really wants. Deep down, I feel like I know that I wouldn't particularly enjoy the hidden aspects of travel writing. But my head exceeded the instinct of my heart and only showed me the advantages and possibilities.
To be really happy, you have to be in harmony with what you feel in your heart, not just your head. Your heart must be focused on your thoughts, words and actions. And the heart should be the one that initiates the rest. Thoughts, words and actions should follow what you feel in your heart.
Perhaps Gandhi has implied this in his quote, but I think it is necessary to say it explicitly. The world we live in can be messy and complex, so it can help us to have a specific guiding principle.
The call to return home
Earlier this year I returned to Ireland after a total of two years and three months of travel. During my absence, I spent a lot of time unlocking what my heart really wanted for my future.
There were moments when I wondered if I wanted to go home at all. I was thinking of continuing the travel lifestyle and seeing the whole world. I could do odd jobs if I need more money.
If I think about it, I am sure that I could have fun if I continued traveling. But the reason why I didn't choose it is because my heart wasn't there. My heart longed for this return to Ireland.
I was keen to return to my family and begin my mission to redefine the Irish education system. I believe that education should give young people the opportunity to find love, joy and fulfillment in their lives and not just to prepare them for a limited number of careers.
When my calling was blinded by pleasure
There were many moments on my travels when I was involved in the fun of drinking with good friends, and I wondered if I really wanted to go home to pursue this mission. A particularly memorable moment was when I volunteered at the tree house hostel in Nicaragua.
As I sat facing the jungle and had a cold beer after one of our wild jungle rave parties, I saw the morning sun penetrate the trees. I felt his warmth soothe my face and all worries about the future were washed away as the refreshing beer slid down my neck. Tropical house music bounced softly from the speakers, and I was surrounded by friends who all chatted and laughed.
This is paradise, I thought. Why should i go Why put all my efforts in something that wasn't guaranteed to make me happy right away?
I did not owe it to anyone to redefine Ireland's schools. Why not just lead a carefree lifestyle, travel to new places and find new groups of friends with whom to drink and hunt beautiful girls?
Seeing things clearly
When I look back now, I find that the endorphins that flowed through my body led me to believe that I had to look for such joys immediately and give up my bigger visions. But when I became sober and the new friends and beautiful girls disappeared, these feelings of joy subsided, only to be replaced by a deep feeling of emptiness.
Deep inside, I longed for real connection and meaning. Something I knew could only be found in a great love or mission.
The freedom I felt in the jungle was euphoric, but I knew it could not be maintained. There was a fire in my stomach that couldn't be ignored. Moments of pleasure could dim the flame for a while, but they could never extinguish the spark that urged me to do something more.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed my travels. I enjoyed myself a lot and had a great time. I have had many amazing experiences, met tons of great people and learned countless lessons.
I have experienced the happiest peace in the mountains and the most painful loneliness at the foot of the mountains. My travel time was an important part of my life journey. One that I will always remember and for which I will always be grateful.
However, I knew that it was dangerous to make the pursuit of pleasure my goal in life. It was always meant to lead a life of addiction and misery. I am aware that pleasure can bring me joy and satisfaction at the moment, but I also know that these feelings never last.
Where true happiness exists
I'm not saying that I give up pleasure entirely, I still love to drink and things like sex and good food are great too! I only place my heart's mission before my mind's pursuit of pleasure. My mission will bring me lasting joy and fulfillment.
My occasional enjoyment of pleasure will bring me everything I expect from them. Current pleasure.
I ask people to experience the fullness of life through travel. Try the things you've always dreamed of. Treat yourself to pleasure and enjoy it right now. Remember that the joy they bring will not last forever.
Lasting joy and fulfillment must come from within. If you live in accordance with what your heart thinks is right. When what you think, say and do is in harmony with what you feel. Pursue this great love or mission when it ignites inside. If you do this, you don't have to look for happiness. Happiness will find you
About Cormac Noonan
Cormac Noonan is a writer and life coach who loves spending time with his close friends and family and immersing himself in unique travel experiences. Cormac's first book Discover Your Destination is available on Amazon. He wrote it for those looking for a career that ignites their passion and has since published a free online course that helps people find their life's work. You can also follow Cormac's forays on his retiredat25.com blog.
See typing errors or inaccuracies? Please contact us so we can fix the problem!
