Thursday, July 20, 2006

As Singaporeans, are we happy? A recent survey states that Singaporeans are ranked second among many countries to top the most unhappy list. So does that mean we are all not easily satisfied?

Many believe that joy is a synonym of happy. But in fact, there is a big difference between the two. Happiness is a short term pleasure and joy is a long term pleasure. Many of us can say we have happiness but not joy and that can clearly be shown in surveys. We are not happy for many reasons, to name a few: financial status, studies, results, our looks, capabilities and even those people around us. If we were to blame anyone, we can only blame the society. Well, isn't it a norm to always blame society for all this problems? But sad to say society really have a large part to play in all this. We are put in an environment that demands competition and staying on top. If we don't make the cut, we will be thrown aside. This is what makes everyone unhappy about things.

If anyone can truly say he/she is happy, I would not really believe. Can anyone say they got enough money? That they are very happy with their looks and given a chance would not want to change? They can live in a world with no branded things? That they are contempt with just walking and taking public transport and don't wish to own a car? That they do not wish to excel in the things they do? I seriously am not. I wish to have more money, better looks, sports car and all. I am often unhappy with myself not being able to achieve it all and even any other things I wish to achieve.

We really have to learn to see things as basic as possible. Just like the Americans at the country side. They live simple life and can do with whatever they had. They don't live for all the high-tech gadgets and all the fashionable products and all the branded goods. Even as Christians we can't avoid the fact that we worship material possessions. We can't stop ourself from buying and wanting all the branded things like Nike, Adidas, Levis, Gucci and LV. Sometimes we are unhappy that we do not have enough money and that we can't buy all this things that we want. So if we do not have the short term happiness, how do we find our long term joy???