Some people want to be happy. So many seem to be in constant pursuit of happiness and if they are not, they long to be happy. It seems that is because many people see happiness as the perfect state of being.
Happiness is a very nice thing to experience. But I do not believe that it is a state of being. It is merely a passing emotion. It cannot be sustained, at least not in this world, not in this life. It's not realistic for our brains to continuously release hormones to sustain a feeling of happiness. Rather, I seek peace. Peace is such a satisfying feeling, a state of being where you feel at peace with your reality, your situation, and are grateful for however much or little you have.
The sort of calm feeling that washes over me when I feel at peace seems to be incompatible with happiness as I interpret the word. Happiness usually accompanies and excited energy that would be tiring to always experience, without break.
I seek peace in various ways and find it in many different ways. I find peace in music. I feel at peace when crafting my art. I am soaked in peace after a prayer, during spiritual or religious reflection. I feel at peace when I fall asleep and before I wake. I find peace through improving myself in meaningful ways. Peace is a state of being where I feel at best and which I continuously seek to gain. I only hope that God may have mercy on me on Judgment Day and admit me among the righteous into Paradise, where there will be peace upon all its inhabitants for all eternity, if He so wills.
