THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD

A man who had every material comfort, money, and possessions, nevertheless felt that something significant was missing in his life. He felt a yearning and inner emptiness. So he went to someone reputed to be a fine healer.

The healer said, ‘this is a normal and everyday malady for many people who have more than they need. If you wish to be cured it is not a difficult thing, but it will take patience and some courage. Are you ready for the challenge?’

The man said he was ready.

‘Then your task is simple. All you need to do it find the happiest man in the world and wear his shirt. Once you have his shirt, you will attain the peace you seek.’

So the man set off in search of the happiest man in the world. His search took him to all corners of the world. He found many happy men, and women too. He heard great amounts of laughter and saw copious smiles, but every happy person he found always said there was one happier than she or he was.

Finally the man found a mountain, on which many agreed the world's happiest man lived. From far away he heard peals of laughter rolling down the mountain and across the valleys. The man was so happy that even the flowers were smiling and the trees were singing.

‘Are you the happiest man in the world?’ asked the pilgrim.

‘Indeed I am. There is none happier that I anywhere in the world,’ said the happiest man between gales of laughter.

‘Then, so that I may find peace and tranquility in my life at last, may I respectfully make a request?’

‘Go ahead, my friend.’

‘Would you be so kind as to give me your shirt? I will reward you handsomely for it.’

The happiest man in the world howled with glee. His laughter seemed uncontrollable. So much so that the traveler was rather affronted.

‘I don’t see what’s so funny about my request.’

‘Well.’ Said the happiest man, ‘if you had any powers of observation you would have noticed that I’m not wearing a shirt. In fact, I don’t possess a single one.’

‘Then what am I to do? My Healer, who is one of the most respected in the world, said that this was the only way I could be cured from my yearning.’

‘Then you will indeed be cured. For it is the desire to seek for something that may be unattainable that marks out the achiever from the non-achiever. For the higher you set your expectations of yourself the more you will approach your full potential.’

And, saying this, the happiest man in the world removed the cap from his head and it turned out to be none other than the healer himself.

The man was somewhat confused, disappointed, and even a little angry about this. ‘Why didn’t you tell me this when I first came to see you?’

‘Because you had to reconnect with real experience in the world. You were not ready to understand these things. You had to submit to the experience of life in all its ways and forms in order to understand that happiness and suffering interconnected sides of the same coin.’

From: The Magic of Metaphor (Nick Owen)

Many years ago I watched one series of Love Island with shameless pleasure! I was fascinated by the dynamics of the people and the language they used. Talking about what they wanted in a relationship came the statement 'I need someone who makes me happy'. If we are unable to make ourselves happy, how can we expect anyone else to do it. I started to explore this in my facilitation, happiness is so many different things to so many different people.

What does happiness mean to you and how do you know when you have it?

In a world full of instant gratification it is also worth considering - Effort = Reward

#finding_yourfeet #challengeandchange #effortandreward #personaldevelopment