Chapter 1: Understanding the Nature of Happiness

In today's world, numerous factors can hinder our productivity and overall sense of contentment. These issues not only affect me personally but also extend to those around me. Among these challenges are:

• The ongoing conflict stemming from Putin's aggressive actions.
• The troubling behavior of Russian military forces during this war.
• The tragic mass shootings in locations like Uvalde and Buffalo, among many others.
• The violence faced by African Americans in the United States, often at the hands of those sworn to protect all citizens.
• The 30% of Americans who hold delusional beliefs about the 2020 presidential election, yet continue to influence political discussions, despite the fact that freedom of speech does not shield falsehoods.
• The GOP members in the House who refuse to engage with a legitimate investigation into the January 6 Insurrection, increasingly appearing to obstruct justice, and engage in contempt of Congress.
• The actions of the Trumpublican party attempting to set the stage for a coup, regardless of whether the former president returns to power.
• The Supreme Court's alarming decisions that undermine long-standing rights and expand interpretations of individual liberties well beyond the intentions of the Constitution's framers.
• The Democratic Party's ongoing struggle to effectively communicate their positive initiatives to uplift citizens, often resorting instead to fear tactics regarding potential Trumpublican control of Congress.
• Personal challenges such as my husband's stroke and my mother's health issues, which disrupted plans to have her visit us.
• My unhealthy coping mechanism of binge eating, which has negatively impacted my health and reversed some of my weight loss progress over the past year and a half.
• The cancellation of my travel plans to various destinations, including India and cross-country trips.
• The pressing issue of climate change, which remains largely unaddressed, including my own lack of proactive measures.

While this list may seem overwhelming, it reflects a fraction of the challenges we face. Yet, amidst this chaos, I find a profound sense of contentment, reinforced each time I reflect on my gratitude list. This list includes not only the essentials of life but also positive experiences related to the musicals I'm creating, my stage plays, the gardens we are cultivating around our new home, my health improvements, and the engaging interactions I've had through platforms like Medium and Twitter. I've also been exploring a collection of floral photographs I've taken over the past 12 years, much like the one featured above.

I can confidently state that I am genuinely happy. This acknowledgment stems from the understanding that life will inevitably present unpleasant and even reprehensible events. If there seems to be an increase in such occurrences compared to the past, it likely reflects societal changes initiated during the Reagan era. I am gradually learning to accept the world as it is, rather than how I wish it to be.

In my immediate surroundings, I recognize that my problems are relatively minor. They can be addressed, though the degree of difficulty varies. My experience shows that something may occur to disrupt my joy, and any background stress can escalate into a significant setback. I am still working on managing the inevitable disruptions to my happiness. Writing about these thoughts serves as a helpful outlet.

Contentment lies in appreciating what one has and not yearning for substantial changes in life. May everyone discover their own contentment and use it as a stepping stone towards genuine happiness.

The first video titled "How to get your joy back when someone bursts your bubble (aka handling haters!)" offers strategies to regain your happiness when faced with negativity. It emphasizes resilience and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook despite external challenges.

The second video, "How To Be Happy Around Narcissists: Creating a Happy Bubble Using Observe Don't Absorb!" provides insights on how to navigate relationships with narcissistic individuals, teaching viewers to protect their happiness by observing rather than absorbing negativity.