Chasing Happiness vs. Finding Peace

Happiness is usually the first thing that comes to mind when people ask, “What do you want in life?”
But happiness is always relative.

Imagine a life with a regular schedule, no worry about the next meal, a safe place to sleep, friends or a partner to spend weekends with, and someone to call when you need.
Would you call that happiness?

For some people, it’s their dream life. For others, it’s just normal.
And if it’s just normal, do you still feel happy?

Most of us, myself included, do not feel happy about it, because we can always find something to be unhappy about.
Salary is too low, someone is annoying, the toilet needs to be fixed…
Meanwhile, for someone else, their only dream might be to have a legal identity, or simply a safe place to sleep.

So, is happiness really what we’re chasing?

One day I listened to Naval’s podcast, where he said:
“Happiness is not what we should chase, peace is. When your heart is peaceful, whatever you do can feel happy.”

That line hit me hard.
I always think that landing a big project as a music composer and earning a lot of money would finally make me happy.
But somehow, it was never enough.

I’m already living the dream I had ten years ago, a full-time musician, writing the music I love everyday.
And yet, I kept wanting more: bigger projects, more money.

That’s why I decided to slow down.
To breathe.
To appreciate the little things in my life.
To leave space for reflection.
To focus on my breath.
And remind myself to stay present.