People who search for happiness \u2013 just like that \u2013 frequently end up being less<\/em> happy. It\u2019s a kind of nature\u2019s revenge, maybe, especially when one and the other end up in a vicious circle. I\u2019m thinking, as an example, of a drug addiction.<\/p>\n If you really want happiness, search for growth.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n What eventually makes people most happy is the feeling of growth, one way or another. That\u2019s precisely because growth is so central to nature and we are<\/em> natural beings. In aligning ourselves to this natural tenet, we are consistent with the flow that goes right through us. We are \u2018in flow\u2019 with our deepest self, with our myriads of subconceptual patterns that exist \u2013 actively and passively \u2013 inside our mind\/brain [see: \u2018About \u2018Subconceptual\u2019<\/a>].<\/p>\n So, how does one practically get into this flow?<\/p>\n At long term:<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n working towards a goal of getting better in the course of time, or attaining more resources, more power to influence, more \u2018legacy\u2019 as in \u2018leaving the world as a better place\u2019. Some people scorn the latter saying. Most would in due circumstances give their life for it. It\u2019s part of the way we are, if properly supported and not deep-down-damaged by who-knows-what.<\/p>\n At very short term<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n for instance: making something. A child makes a nice drawing. A physician makes a patient feel better. A (non-industrial) baker bakes a bread, again and again. An industrial manager \u2018makes the day\u2019 for his employees. A dancer makes nice movements at a festival. It can all have depth. It can all be oriented to growth.<\/p>\n \u2018Growth\u2019 is not \u2018control\u2019<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Although \u2018controlled growth\u2019 is of course possible and real, the real growth that happens even in such circumstance is not by itself to be controlled. The growth then happens within controlled boundaries. In the human case also, one can set boundaries but not control the growing itself.<\/p>\n Thus, likewise, one cannot control happiness. Every effort to try to control it, will put it further away. And do people generally not very much try to control it\u2026 Each new technology (social media etc.) comes with a promise that this will provide more happiness in a controlled way. Well, after some years this appears to not be case. Frequently, many end up further away than before.<\/p>\n Please don\u2019t blame the technology for this<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n but the way it\u2019s used. Of course, if you let people use the technology with no decent support \u2013 \u2018teach your children well\u2019 \u2013 then mishaps do occur. People may become very<\/em> unhappy\u2026 and more and more. Say: burnout, depression, psycho-somatics, etc.<\/p>\n Right, but who will teach whom with ever more rapidly evolving technology?<\/em><\/p>\n We need to transcend technology. We need to transcend knowledge.<\/p>\n We need wisdom more than ever.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Wisdom comes with very broad patterns in mind, not with serially mechanical thinking. I like to call the former \u2018parallel\u2019 thinking. Now, in order to happen, this needs freedom. Thus: no control but invitation (= freedom + direction).<\/p>\n One can invite<\/em> happiness. One can invite<\/em> growth. One of the best ways to reach the latter is\u2026 back to happiness:<\/p>\n Happiness towards growth<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Happiness \u2013 not just like that but with growth intrinsically in mind (!) \u2013 is attractive to one\u2019s deeper self. This way, a striving for such happiness is by itself a nice \u2018instrument\u2019 that one can respectfully \u2013 not otherwise \u2013 use towards self-development. It makes things happen naturally.<\/p>\n And besides, it\u2019s joyful \ud83d\ude0a.<\/p>\n