Can the Poor and Sick be Happy?

By Anil Giga

Many times we look at people around us and think how happy and contented they are. We form this opinion by glimpsing images of these people getting into a fine car, dining at upscale restaurants or because they are dressed in such a way that expresses success and contentment. Then we look into out own life and find all these problems: Someone you care about may be sick or has lost their job, there are financial problems and a lot of stress all around. The conclusion when this happens is pretty easy to guess. We feel “they” are happy and contented whilst our life is filled with chaos, making us unhappy. First, the thought that ‘they’ are happy and contented is in itself an image we have created and in fact may not be true at all. It is a known fact that some of the happiest and most contended people around are the ones we never notice! That’s right, they have nothing to prove, nothing to express and are not trying to make a statement by driving the right car, wearing the right clothes and being at the right places. To be truly happy and contended means that you are okay with your self and thus do not need to be someone you are not hence, you do not seek others’ validation and approval. This also means that some of the people we think are very happy because they project that state may actually be concealing their deep discontent. The fact is, the images we see of others never do tell the whole story. This might explain why one of the commandments is not to covet others’ possessions. Secondly, everyone goes through phases in their life, periods when things are going well and periods when we are struggling with problems. What we see really is a snapshot of one phase; therefore we really cannot tell what season waits for anyone around the corner. So focusing on whether “they” are happy is not only redundant but quite destructive because our real focus should be on our self. This means we have to accept who we are and our circumstance, warts and all! Being rich or poor, sick or in good health has nothing to do with real happiness, because this exists within the self, the soul. The soul does not get sick nor is it attached to material wealth. You see, each one of us comes into the world and is allotted a certain time. In this time we have to complete our very unique and beautiful tapestry. The circumstances that enter our lives are the stuff from which we discover the pieces and colors. That’s right; all the struggles, problems and good fortunes come to us for a reason and hide the lessons that will allow us to finish the picture. Just remember, in the same way that we often see the beauty and light from stars that are long dead, our legacy should be to complete our own special tapestry whose beauty will stay and inspire others long after we are gone. This happens when we learn to give, inspire and help others, no matter what obstacles are placed in front of us.

Anil Giga Bsc is the author of The Invisible Way (USA Best Book Award) and an Investment Professional in Calgary.