Where does happiness come with so many conditions

Author: Cheng Xiaochang (Editor) / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: If you were Shuzhen, what decision would you make? If Shuzhen could choose to, persuade her parents that she was indeed prepared, rather than acting on impulse, and return home after completing the journey, Shuzhen would be able to have the same life experiences as her friends and radiate confidence. But if Shuzhen remained silent, she would still maintain the image of a good daughter, but this defeat would make her unwilling to pursue her dreams ever again. We are all Shuzhen, we all have a distant yet real ideal waiting for us to achieve. We may just be students, ordinary office workers, or salespeople constantly worried about performance. But we want to study abroad, start our own companies, or own a comfortable big house. Anyone might pour a bucket of cold water on us, telling us that daily necessities and endless trivial matters are the reality of life. At this point, how would you choose? You could debate with them, prove that life still has many wonderful things to look forward to, but even if you win the debate verbally, what then? You applied to school but were rejected due to language or academic shortcomings; you started a company but lacked business acumen and failed to develop more popular products, declaring bankruptcy within half a year; you found a house with a great location, excellent lighting, and ample space at an unbelievable price, but without a financial plan or savings, you simply couldn’t afford it. If Shuzhen’s solo trip was just admiration without further research, even if her parents didn’t object, do you think her journey would be safe and pleasant? Remember, "To jump higher, you must first crouch lower." Even with a dazzling exterior and confident appearance, if you encounter a great opportunity but lack the real talent to handle it, you will ultimately fall from grace.
Relaxation is not laziness
Manager Chen, 30, single. Like many successful young professionals, he has a deep and slightly melancholic face; he doesn’t have time to watch movies. He doesn’t know who A-Mei or Jay Chou are; his steps are always hurried, as if he’s participating in an Olympic race walk. In fact, there are many "Manager Chen," "Manager Qian," "Manager Sun," "Manager Li," and "Manager Jiao" around us like him.
"Money is getting thinner and thinner. If I don’t work harder, how will I support my family?" This is the voice of the common people and an undeniable fact. Thus, the sudden death of Japanese middle-aged men may also occur in Taiwan. You’ve probably heard such stories: a busy, successful entrepreneur goes on vacation to a southern island. The island is undeveloped, with a simple and leisurely atmosphere everywhere. The entrepreneur sees such a wonderful tourist paradise being wasted by locals who just sit around and sunbathe, and it’s a real shame.
"Not good, I must teach these locals how to use their resources effectively. I must show them what life is really about!" So he immediately starts talking business with the locals. "Why don’t we cooperate? I’ll invest in building a few tourist hotels and do some advertising. It will definitely attract a lot of people." The entrepreneur speaks passionately, but the locals seem uninterested.
"What’s the point of so many people coming?" The entrepreneur is shocked, his eyes about to drop out. Still patient, he explains, "With a crowd, there’s business. With business, you can make a lot of money." The locals shake their heads, "No. Why make so much money? It’ll just cause trouble!" The entrepreneur feels like he’s going crazy. He’s never heard of someone rejecting money handed to them. He quickly says, "Money is useful! With money, you can enjoy delicacies, buy an entire island, relax by the sea, sunbathe, and enjoy your vacation!"
The locals smile and reply, "What’s the difference from our current life?" That entrepreneur was indeed smart but also foolish, wasn’t he?
Do you often struggle to make ends meet because of buying a house, paying off loans, and cutting your budget too tightly? You don’t buy new clothes, skip leisure activities, gradually stop attending gatherings, and even take on extra jobs, leaving yourself exhausted both physically and mentally?
"Today’s efforts lay the foundation for a better tomorrow." You might say this with conviction. But don’t forget the ancient saying, "Heaven is unpredictable, and man’s fortune changes overnight." Where is tomorrow? No one knows. If today’s efforts exhaust you, aren’t you just like the self-proclaimed troublesome entrepreneur?
Why not leave a blank date in your schedule? Whether it’s every weekend or a specific day, or even just a few hours—it’s better than a packed itinerary. No matter how busy you are, make sure to leave some time for yourself. Even if you think, "Work gives me a sense of achievement, and busyness satisfies me. I’m not used to having blank spaces in my schedule," you’re still unhappy. A full schedule is just an illusion. As soon as life has a blank space, you’ll feel anxious, immediately call friends, and rush out again.
Learn to listen to your inner voice and respect yourself. Why are you afraid of loneliness? Because you have fear in your heart. Why are you afraid? How can you overcome this fear?
Settle your scattered thoughts, and you can clarify what you truly want to pursue, no longer blindly following others’ values.
Perhaps the view from the mountain top is vast, but sometimes, it’s better to slow down and enjoy the scenery along the way. With this mindset, you’ll definitely have more energy when you keep moving forward!
Exercise makes you more attractive
31-year-old Wang Chunming is a salesperson. He’s usually quiet and reserved, but after a few drinks, he becomes a completely different person—talkative and eloquent. He says that in a slightly tipsy state, he feels more relaxed.
Hu Lili is a young office worker. Her biggest complaint is that she can’t sleep at night and her body aches all over. "I know I should be more cheerful, but every time I wake up, I feel so depressed I want to cry," she complains to her friends.
Ye Jianming is a college student. Every night, he indulges in the void of the internet. Sometimes, he visits gaming websites, either playing strategy games or playing mahjong, or else chatting in forums to flirt with girls. Unconsciously, he sits in front of the screen all night, seemingly doing a lot but achieving nothing.
With the advancement of technology, modern life has become increasingly convenient, and the digital age has significantly improved work efficiency. However, the societal norm of "owning the world while sitting at a computer" has led to alienation between people and a decrease in physical activity.
How can we boost our vitality? First, cultivating confidence is the step to enhancing personal energy. Confident, successful people always stand tall, dress neatly, have bright eyes, and seem to be in control of the world. The key lies in "standing tall" and "clear, bright eyes." A weak and sickly person struggles even to stand up; if the body accumulates too many wastes, isn’t it always in a drowsy, hazy state? If you don’t get enough sleep the night before, you’re more likely to feel sluggish, have difficulty concentrating, and easily get into conflicts with others.
To improve focus for busy work or demanding studies, various stimulants and supplements are available on the market. These often claim to "rapidly replenish energy." However, this approach is dangerous. All supplements and medications, no matter how effective, put a burden on the liver. In other words, energy boosted by external means will disappear as the effect wears off, and it will also damage the function of internal organs. After all, this energy isn’t cultivated naturally—why deceive yourself?