An RJ recently asked on S FM, what one needs most to be happy. Barring one caller, every single other person said the same thing – ‘Money!’. Sadly, most of them weren’t joking, and one even argued her side of the case bitterly.

As we discussed the same topic over tea with a hint of sorrow towards those who felt that way, my friend protested. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘take my example. I feel happy when I spend time with friends. I’m happy right now because we’re all together! But the sandwiches of Daily Bread do not come for free! If we have to hang out together, and thereby if I have to be happy, I need money!’

Hmmm…. what logic. The argument twisted and turned that evening, but I am countering this particular line here, since I have reason to believe that many might feel the same way. I’d like to know one thing; if you are with your best friend, does it really matter whether you are chatting up over a dinner at Taj, or whether you are eating bhelpuri at a stall in the street?

Happiness is not something to be pursued, it is something you have within you – you can be happy even in the most dire of situations. You can be broke, hungry, disabled, cold and lonely and still be happy – IF you want to. The problem is, most of us are so busy chasing momentary joys, that we have no time to explore permanent happiness.

Many people use the line ‘I will be happy when …..’ replaced by whatever you are pursuing right now. Life doesn’t work that way. Once you achieve that, you will have something else to run after. If you want to be happy, you can be happy right now, right here.

My aunt is a teacher in a school at Jaipur, where they have an exchange program with a UK school, so that some students from here go there, and some British students come to India for a month. One year, instead of the usual agenda, the teachers decided that the British students should see Indian village life. Therefore, when they landed at Jaipur, they were taken to a poor, poor village in Rajasthan, where the poverty was so high, that they used broken pots to cook rotis, had to walk miles for water, and ate nothing but chili chutney with roti for all meals. Needless to say, the students were terrified. They were left there to spend two weeks!

When the authorities returned to pick the children up, many of them started crying. Coming from affluent homes in Britain, many had never lived life without a washing machine, a WC, a bathtub, or atleast bread and butter. But two weeks in a poverty stricken village, and most didn’t even want to go back home. Why? Because they found happiness here. How then, pray tell me, can money bring you happiness?

The villages, despite their means, would get together every evening, dance, talk and gossip. They were affectionate towards each other, and there was no competition with one’s neighbour over who has the best TV. No desires. No misery.

People feel that they wouldn’t progress in life if they have no desires. They are so wrong. Since many people work ONLY because they work towards a want, they feel that if they don’t want anything, they won’t work. On the contrary, when you start doing your duty for what its worth, instead of working for a gain, you work better. Success is far more likely to kiss the feet of those who value the right things.

Which is why, those who chase, chase for the rest of their lives, just like a dog chasing its tail.

The secret of happiness lies in satisfaction – satisfaction with what you already have. The secret of happiness lies in living in the present. The secret of happiness lies in asking yourself what you can DO, instead of what you can GET. Instead of looking at those more successful, more affluent and more powerful than you, if you look at those who are poorer, less intelligent and less successful than you are, you will find joy. Which is why, I guess, those who help others are always happy – because they are frequently exposed to those who are far less lucky.

Set your priorities right, and figure out what you really want in life. And for your own sake, do not lead yourself into believing that it is the only thing which will bring you joy. Because the only person in the world who can make you happy, is YOU.