In Pursuit of Happiness

SEARCHING

Jack and Nancy have been married for two years. 

One fateful day, Nancy woke up and said to Jack, 

“I feel like I can’t continue with this marriage, I need to do something more worthwhile with my life.”

She then continued,

 “this is my third marriage and am already giving up.”  She then burst into tears.

 

 Jack slowly got closer to her and hugged her. They stood there sobbing on each other’s shoulders.

Jack broke the silence “they might be something of great significance we are looking for, something which keeps us searching?

Jack and Nancy are not the first in this pilgrimage of man’s pursuit for the meaning of life and its end; it started long time ago with the very dawn of man. After tireless reflection about life, man came to discover that at the core of all human enterprises is a robust need. A need which makes man to hold on to one enterprise and to give up the other enterprises which impede the realization of this need.

There is no definite means or system of self-realization and satisfaction. Had it been the case, man would hold on to only one mode of being because he would be certain and guaranteed that that’s the right means to the realization of this need. Nonetheless, the pilgrimage in search of happiness continues.

Man is free. Man can choose. Man is capable of knowing his end and he remains free in judging and choosing the means to reach this end. This makes the pilgrimage in pursuit of happiness even more fascinating. It is fascinating because then human existence can be ‘unity in diversity’ or rather ‘diversity in unity.’ Imagine how the world would be if God had revealed to man only one definite mode as the only means to his end.

But there still remains one problem to be solved; Why does man keep shifting and sifting among alternatives?

 Firstly, it can be due to the ignorance of the fact that no enterprise or means is an absolute to man’s end because of the limitedness of every means. Secondly, it is because no definite means has been dictated and commanded, it has been left for man’s judgement and freedom.

Instead of trying to make your life perfect, give yourself the freedom to make it an adventure, and go ever upward. 

Drew Houston

This is indubitable, that one who searches for this end everywhere and in everything ends up not having had chosen any means in particular. Whoever embraces all ends up not embracing any means deeply and is not better than one who embraces one and lives it deeply. This is essential, man ought to be aware that at the centre of every initiative and choice he makes is the pursuit for happiness.

About the author :

Bwalya Kasonde is a Zambian student of philosophy and Education at Don Bosco College, Moshi, Tanzania. He is a passionate and enthusiastic basket-baller and a motivational role model to youths.

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