Unconditional Happiness

Lessons from Victor Frankl

Talking about “being happy” and “finding joy” while surrounded by news about war, failing economies, rising costs of living, and global climate crises can seem a little disingenuous, if not absurd.

I get why sceptics and cynics alike. When hearing these words, they raise their eyes skywards, sigh and ignore much of what the “happiness coach” has to say.

The issue is that the words “happiness” and “joy” are often thought of as goals to be achieved rather than attitudes to life and living. As such, “happiness” and “joy” have conditions attached to them.

“I will be happy when….”

When what?

You have wealth; you have someone who loves and cares for you; when you are successful?

Don’t aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your…