The Nature of "Happiness" in Early Life
Can a baby, a newborn, or a young animal truly be happy? We often look at a satiated infant or a playful puppy and interpret their contentment as happiness. However, this may be a misinterpretation of their state. The joy we perceive is likely not a complex emotion but a more fundamental, instinctual response to having their needs met.
Consider a newborn. When they are fed, warm, and comfortable, they are quiet and content. When they are hungry or cold, they cry. This is not an expression of sadness, but a biological signal. Their state is not one of happiness versus sadness, but rather one of being satiated versus unsatiated. The moment that feeling of satisfaction fades, the "happiness" disappears, replaced by the instinct to seek comfort again. Animals and human infants exist in this instinctual reality, driven by basic needs rather than complex emotional states.
The Evolution of the Human Experience
So, when do humans develop the capacity for something more? The ability to be truly happy or sad is a uniquely human trait that we develop as we mature. This is where we part ways with our animal instincts. Happiness and sadness are not merely reactions to our physical state; they are a conscious choice, a confluence of our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes.
Unfortunately, we often confuse these two distinct states. We mistake a lack of satisfaction for true sadness, and in doing so, we live in a constant state of fear and emotional unease. This fear is a deep-seated, subconscious anxiety about not having our needs met—a primal echo of our instinctual past. We are afraid of losing what we have or of not getting what we want, and this fear can consume our thoughts and actions.
Choosing Our Attitude
We are, in a sense, part animal and part human. The instinct to seek satisfaction is a fundamental part of our being, one that we cannot simply turn off. However, unlike animals, we possess the remarkable ability to choose our attitude. We can cultivate a positive outlook that transcends our basic fears.
This positive attitude, rooted in a strong belief in something greater than ourselves, can act as a counterbalance to our instinctual anxieties. This belief can provide a sense of security and hope that our animalistic fears cannot touch. When we understand this, we can stop blaming external circumstances and other people for our unhappiness. The struggle is not against the world, but within ourselves.
We can choose to be happy despite our circumstances. The moment we insist on blaming others for our suffering, we give away our power and condemn ourselves to a perpetual state of misery. The journey from being an "animal" to being a "person" is the journey from reacting to our instincts to consciously choosing our attitude.