“Our Responsibility to Happiness”

*a-3 minute-read*

We always appreciate the real ones—you know, the people who are there for us when it matters the most. While we may have people around us constantly, we must remember who is directly responsible for our happiness – ourselves. As much as circumstances and situations can dictate your level of joy, a deeper appreciation comes when you recognize your responsibility to the cause. But if someone wants to send a million dollars to me right now, please know you will make me a very happy African man and I could never repay you (figuratively and literally) for the contribution you have made to my life.

You would think most people would see joy as an inside job, but admittedly at times, it seems like having these emotions makes us reactive instead of proactive. It’s a natural experience that a single event can lift your mood or bring it down. But if you allow your emotions to control you, true peace will remain out of reach. Staying a reactive person in this lifetime will not allow you to make major movements (standard abbreviation for growth) and you will remain stagnant no matter how hard you try.

Making decisions for yourself is more ideal than basing your choices on the actions of those around you. Think of it as creating an equilibrium within yourself internally and externally, where relationships with others complement your happiness, but don’t complete it. Once you reach this state, it becomes difficult for the outside noise to influence you, and your peace is protected. We like to see protected peace over here at Timeless Thoughts.

Ode to You

When you recognize how your choices and habits influence your achievements, the journey becomes easier to manage. I live by the principle of figuring out exactly who you are as a person so that this becomes the foundation of every thought you have thereafter. Without a clear sense of who you are, you risk being influenced by others and losing sight of your potential.

You owe it to yourself to have a list of values you live by and to be able to display them consistently. Defining your character is similar to designing a brand vision, and like a brand takes time to develop, finding core values may not be the easiest thing to do the first time around. One suggestion is to write down in a notepad – “Who I Am Today” on one page and “Who I Want To Be” on another page. Once you see it on the page, the visualization levels up, and you’re empowered to work on becoming the person you want to be, with the knowledge and awareness of who you are right now.

The beauty of choosing the person you want to be lies in the ongoing journey. You are constantly refining your guiding principles by adding, removing, and adjusting them as the years pass. Once you have the foundation, all you do is keep adding the tools that take you higher.

We should be able to guarantee that we are not the same people we were four years ago compared to where we are now in our lives (if you can’t say the same, then we have some work to do!).

Finding Good People

Showing gratitude and appreciation can be regarded as a lost art nowadays. Today’s kids do not know how to be appreciative anymore; everyone thinks they deserve everything when they have never done anything, and people continue to mistake kindness for weakness.

While our happiness is our responsibility, God put us on this earth not alone but in relationship for a reason. Community and camaraderie can take us to levels we once thought were unfathomable and having a one-two (standard abbreviation for a few) people around you hyping you up and believing in you can make a significant difference.

On Timeless Thoughts, we have talked about how having good friends and people who are genuinely happy is integral to the basis of who we are. But if you have not sorted yourself out first, you cannot expect the same from others. The awareness that this is a two-way street will save you time and prevent broken relationships in the future.

The idea is to become the best version of you while helping the friend group do the same. You can do both, but there is a priority order that you cannot play around with, and honestly, this is an ongoing experience I’m navigating myself. Setting aside time for yourself while clearly communicating to others when you’re available for them is a step toward the progress we aim to achieve.

Thank You, Next?

Happiness manifests differently for everyone. While a smile is often seen as a universal sign of joy, it can sometimes conceal deep, dark emotions. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t smile more; rather, it’s important to ensure your smile is genuine and authentic.

Embrace the journey of finding and maintaining happiness. Surround yourself with the right people and be thankful for the chance to make positive changes. I know I am.

Thank you for taking the time to read this—I hope you enjoyed it! Wishing you a prosperous and successful 2025. Happy New Year from Timeless Thoughts! I’ll be back soon. As always, feel free to share with a friend, and don’t forget to answer the question below!

“What core values do you define yourself with?”