Did any of you see that tearjerker movie with Will Smith and his son Jaden called The Pursuit of Happyness? It came out in 2006 and is based on the true story of entrepreneur Chris Gardner’s nearly one-year struggle being homeless. It depicts his difficulties and dedication to achieve success and also care for his young son.
It is one of those rags-to-riches, pain-to-purpose stories. These kind of movies are inspiring and heart-warming and often give us hope that one day we too will “make it” or “get it” or “reach it”.
But in my experience “it” is usually a place on the journey and almost never the final point. In fact, we talk about enjoying life as a journey but I think we mainly live as if we’re holding our breath until we get or have what we’re waiting or striving for.
For a couple of years I worked with farmers helping them establish their farms as businesses with governance and success structures in place. One particularly large, burly man who spoke rough and tough, shared on one occasion that it had been his dream to not only have the best dairy herd in the region but to build a creamery which would make cream and yoghurt and other dairy products. And after four years of blood, sweat and tears he achieved that goal, at the age of 32. But after it was done and running smoothly he sunk into depression for two years. In his mind he had achieved his life’s ambition and didn’t know what else to live for.
My work life has taken different pathways over the years. From community development, to spiritual formation, to soft skills training and development, to values integration for organisations. Even now I ask myself “What’s next?” Where do I need to grow, change, develop, build, achieve? It is a slightly nagging feeling of dissatisfaction that there is more to accomplish, more I need to learn.
Does this mean that I am not happy or live with constant frustration? Quite the opposite. It gives me a renewed sense of purpose. I feel like I am continuing to seek, to adventure, to discover and this is energising and fun!
There is a strange kind of joy in not being fully satisfied with where I am right now. But I have learnt it is not unique to me. Chris Guillebeau set out to visit all of the planet’s countries by age thirty-five, and in the process of achieving that goal discovered how manypeople like himself exist – each pursuing a challenging quest. His book is entitled The Happiness of Pursuit.
Chris interviewed many of these questers and realised more and more the link between the quest, which could be anything from an ambitious culinary project, to producing the world’s largest symphony, to crossing an ocean solo, and long term happiness.
So it seems the pull and desire, the commitment and work required to accomplish something good and great may be the very thing that makes us happy, not necessarily just getting there.
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