Hello dear friends,
I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful mood. Today, I’d like to reflect on a question that touches every soul—“What prevents us from achieving happiness?”

It’s something we all seek, yet it sometimes slips quietly through our fingers like grains of sand.

In my observation, there are three invisible chains that often hold us back from experiencing true joy:

• Living in the past
  
• Comparing ourselves with others
  
• Fearing the future

Before we explore these, allow me to share a little page from my life.

🌿 A Page from My Own Life

I remember a time, not too long after my retirement, when I felt lost in a whirlpool of reflection and regret.

After spending decades immersed in banking, numbers, and responsibilities, I suddenly found myself with time—but I didn’t know how to fill it.

I used to compare my life with others who seemed to have it all figured out—traveling, celebrating, pursuing passions I hadn’t yet discovered. I often wondered, “Is it too late for me?”

Then, one peaceful morning, as I sat on my balcony with a cup of mint tea, I noticed a tiny bird splashing joyfully in a puddle left by last night’s rain. That bird wasn’t worried about tomorrow. It simply was—singing, playing, and soaking in the moment.

Something shifted within me.

I picked up a pen. I sketched that little Bird. I danced with my granddaughter. I stopped waiting for happiness and started noticing it—in everything.

Today, I can say with gratitude—happiness found me the day I stopped searching and started simply being.

Now let’s gently unravel these three barriers to happiness and learn how we can free ourselves—right here, right now.

🌼 1. Living in the Past – The Ghosts We Carry

How often do we find ourselves dwelling on past mistakes, heartbreaks, or lost chances?
We replay regrets and “what ifs” like an old record stuck on repeat.

But dear friends, the past is a place of learning—not living. Holding on to it only robs us of the present.

Yes, we all carry wounds. But healing begins with forgiveness—not just of others, but of ourselves too.

🕊️ “Don’t look back—you’re not going that way.”

If we treat the past as a wise teacher instead of a cruel jailer, we can finally begin to grow, evolve, and embrace peace.

🌻 2. Comparing Ourselves – The Thief of Joy

We scroll through social media, overhear relatives, see others’ success—and suddenly, our own lives feel smaller.

But remember this: what we see is only the highlight reel, not the full story.

Happiness cannot bloom in the soil of comparison. Each of us is on a unique journey. The sun doesn’t compare itself to the moon—it simply shines.

Celebrate yourself—your quiet strength, your growth, your little wins. That’s where real joy lies.

✨ “Comparison is the thief of joy.” — Theodore Roosevelt

Let’s protect our joy like the precious gem it is.

🌿 3. Fearing the Future – The Unwritten Chapter

How often do we lie awake at night, worrying about what might happen tomorrow—our health, our children, our finances, the world?

Fear is a master illusionist. It tricks us into believing that worry equals preparation.
But all it does is steal today’s peace.

Happiness is not waiting in the future. It lives here, in this moment.

Let us replace fear with faith—faith in ourselves, in the rhythm of life, in the unknown possibilities waiting to bloom.

🌈 “Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.”

🌸 So, Where is Happiness Hiding?

It’s not hiding at all. It’s in the smile of your grandchild, the morning cup of tea, the soft breeze, a kind word, a shared memory, a creative moment.

Happiness is now.
It is not a distant destination—it is a way of walking the journey.

When we release the grip of the past, stop comparing, and let go of our fears, we begin to notice the little joys that were always there—quietly waiting for our attention.

✨ A Gentle Reminder for Every Day

Here’s something I like to whisper to myself each morning:

🕊️ “Today, I will live in this moment.
I will not compare, nor complain.
I will breathe deeply, love freely, and laugh often.
Because happiness is not tomorrow—it is today.”

Dear friends,
Let’s not let the past, others, or fear rob us of the most beautiful moments life offers us.
We all deserve happiness—not in some perfect future, but in the wonderfully imperfect now.

So pause. Smile. Be kind to yourself.
Because happiness isn’t something we chase—it’s something we choose.

With warmth and love,
Vijay Verma
www.retiredkalam.com

Categories: infotainment

Tags: #creativity, #emotion, #gratitude, #happiness, #Life, #mental health, #mindfulness, featured