Sometimes I look at the day and am baffled by how far I’ve come along in this journey. Everyone’s journey is different, but as long as it feels right we should continue down the path, evolve, and learn. This journey has both helped me develop, learn, evolve, and unravel aspects of myself I didn’t realise existed. It’s also helped me traverse dark periods, periods of question, and moments where I may previously have chosen to ignore. However, during these moments I have evaluated the situation, expressed my emotion, and elaborated on how I believe it contributes in my search for happiness. In retrospect I’ve learned to develop answers to questions I didn’t know existed, and created solutions to various aspects in my life that I have found myself in many times throughout my life.

Over the past 10 days I covered the concept of happiness being passed down through our genetics, the choices we make, our interactions. I also covered the importance of saying yes sometimes, marijuana, darkness, superstitions, Andrew Huberman’s ‘Big 5’, and glimpses of possibilities within our minds.

Genetics - A study suggests that our happiness is partially influenced by our genetic predisposition, as about 30-40% of well-being and life satisfaction is hereditary, but our happiness is not fixed and can still be influenced by our own choices and experiences. Additionally, the study raises questions about whether our happiness can impact future generations and highlights the connection between family and the life we choose to live.

Choice - Our lives are shaped by the choices we make, from the smallest decisions to the biggest ones, and these choices define who we are and who we become.

Interaction - Our interactions with different people and cultures can profoundly shape our perception of the world, fostering understanding and leading to personal growth, which ultimately contributes to our happiness and fulfillment in life.

Yes - Throughout high school, a friend introduced me to the concept of "yes days" where he would say yes to any yes or no question directed at him, and now, after experiencing the transformative power of embracing the unexpected, I believe that saying yes to things we instinctively say no to can lead us to new experiences and a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Marijuana - Throughout my life, I have experienced the positive and negative influence of marijuana in various aspects of my life and others', recognizing both its ability to bring happiness and open hidden gateways into the mind, teaching patience, deepening emotions, and providing a neutral perspective, emphasizing the need for caution, maturity, and consideration for the unknown.

The Darkness - The world relies on a delicate equilibrium between opposing forces, representing both light and darkness, with individuals constantly navigating this balance in their pursuit of happiness and purpose.

The Big 5 - Andrew Huberman's concept of the "big 5" - sleep, sunshine, exercise, good nutrition, and social interaction - highlights the fundamental aspects of well-being that contribute to happiness and success by promoting physical and mental health, boosting mood and energy levels, fostering discipline and resilience, providing essential nutrients, reducing feelings of loneliness, and enhancing personal growth and fulfillment.

Superstition - In considering superstitions and unexplained phenomena, there is a growing acceptance that these experiences, which leave us in awe and open to all possibilities, may serve as hidden messages guiding us toward a deeper understanding of the world, the universe, and ourselves.

Glimpses - The pursuit of anything valuable requires hard work, from generating ideas to executing plans and gaining the necessary skills, and although it can be challenging at times, I have learned the skill of simply starting and allowing my thoughts to unfold, leading to moments of inspiration that contribute to my exploration of happiness.

Another period in which I feel like I was unable to unravel my thoughts, however looking back and reviewing the various concepts I was able to find a deeper understanding about concepts and ideas. A interesting theory which I found fascinating, was the connection between genetics and the potential possibility of us being predisposed to happiness through our genealogy.

I think for all humans it’s important to search for something deeper than ourselves. A search for understanding of who, what, why, and how we are, who we are. Maybe it will help us uncover deeper meaning, purpose, fulfilment, and happiness in our lives.

Thanks,

Dean