I’ve often wondered, as have many, if the purpose of life is to be happy. Our society touts happiness like a religion. Books, blogs and seminars on the subject abound. But when we think about, look back upon, our lives, is happiness all we remember? The short answer is no. And why? Because it is through our pain and suffering that we often grow, and perhaps heal.
David Brooks wrote an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times last Tuesday on happiness and suffering. The gist of which, in my opinion, is the following: Happiness is happiness, it’s easy, and lovely but it doesn’t push the limits of who we are. It doesn’t make us look at ourselves with new eyes because we manage to live through what we weren’t sure we could.
What pushes us to know the parts of ourselves yet untested? What are our capabilities and limitations? Â David Brooks writes: “Suffering drags you deeper into yourself…The agony involved in, say, composing a great piece of music or the grief of having lost a loved one smashed through what they thought was the bottom floor of their personality, revealing an area below, and then it smashes through that floor revealing another area.”
Makes happiness sound a bit vapid, yes? The way I see it is; pain is the prod that makes us into the people we can be, and happiness is the respite we receive for that hard work.
Wendy Karasin - Musings of a Boomer 
Growth comes through adversity, a hard and often unpalatable truth. Smooth sailing, as you pointed out, is a respite. When times get tough, it’s important to keep our perspective, to remember that nothing is forever. Even happiness. I’ve come to think that our purpose in being here is to love–ourselves and others.
Wise words. When the tough stuff first rolls in, I tend to lose that perspective, but it does resurface eventually. Life is for learning.
Love that last sentence!!
Thank you, Justine. Not only did I say it, I believe it too.
One good FOLLOW, deserves another.
Really interesting blog, made me challenge my perspective on “the hard times”. Thank you for posting!
You are most welcome, that’s why we bloggers are here, to share life with one another, and hopefully expand all of our horizons. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment – I appreciate it.
Yes that’s exactly how I feel! Looking through blogs today I feel so inspired and motivated!
You’re welcome and thanks again for posting.
It’s a beautiful thing – and I mean that most sincerely, when we find words we resonate with!