How wonderful would it be if we never become unhappy? As they say, it would be in the heavens.
But doesn’t the sheer idea of “forever happy” feel a bit impractical and boring? And how on earth would we understand that happiness can be found in the darkest of times?
I mean, we have all heard the theories about how the mix of happiness and sadness is what makes life worth living and adds all the colors to it.
And besides, many of us would probably revolt at the idea of being always happy. As “forever happy” most certainly indicates that even if our loved ones pass away, we would not feel sad.
That would just be bizarre. Wouldn’t it?
Let’s first have a look at what exactly this common phrase, “happiness can be found in the darkest of times” means. Then, we will look into the core of things, and soar from there.
What Does Happiness Can Be Found in the Darkest of Times Mean?
“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times.” This means that, no matter how deeply you may feel in a hole of sorrow, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Emotions and feelings are always fleeting. Nothing lasts forever. And even in our moments of deepest despair, there will always be a new tomorrow, a new light that pervades.
And when that new light does shine through, it is warmer, brighter, and more healing than ever before. We feel that light shine upon us with an entirely new appreciation for it — that’s the beauty of our ever-changing emotions.
Who said happiness can be found in the darkest of times?
This has become quite a common saying. But where did it originate from?
Many can accurately say that the sentiment of this quote has come from an endless series of events, experienced by nearly everyone in the world. And they are completely right; this sentiment is indeed comforting and, at times, life-saving.
However, the first person to be quoted saying this was actually a fictional character that many of us hold near and dear to our hearts — Dumbledore, from the Harry Potter Series.
His full quote is even more moving:
Happiness can be found even in the darkest times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.
Wow. He is talking about our light within.
Dumbledore said this to empower the students of Hogwarts during dark times, indeed. However, it continues to touch the hearts of people all over the world.
Technically, however, we have the brilliance of the author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, to thank for this ever-moving sentiment.
In fact, there is even a very moving story about how this quote got a brave and powerful 15-year-old girl through the death of her family, and J.K. Rowling was there to console her personally.
How beautiful.
What Is the Root Cause of Sorrow?
The root cause of all the negative emotions is the ignorance about the true nature of ourselves, our existence, and the universe.
We live our lives being locked in our individualized shells of egoic consciousness. We are all individual beings comprised of our limited and faulty thoughts, emotions, beliefs, desires, and worldviews.
Hence, the suffering.
We see ourselves as limited, so we want to be more, we desire, and we want to connect with others, love, and be loved as a person.
And when we do not get what we want or that love is not there, we feel sad and dejected.
Happiness Can Be Found in the Darkest of Times
Ignorance has always been compared to darkness and wisdom has always been compared to light.
And it is the same light that Dumbledore talks about in his famous quote.
True knowledge of existence and the universe always tells us that we are the universe, that we never really die, and that joy is the natural state of existence.
Yes, our physical body may wither away, but even that does not actually die, it just transforms into other forms of energy.
We have to unite with the undivided universal consciousness by getting out of the cocoon of the individual and the egoic by raising the level of our consciousness.
We will feel the touch of eternity and the infinite bliss and know that we, just like the universal energy, the one source, are ageless and deathless. And our sorrow will dissolve.
This happiness is something different.
It is that eternal stream of peace and joy that has always been there. It is you, who simply missed noticing. And it never makes one bored.
The Ananda (bliss) is the true creative principle. For all takes birth from this divine Bliss.
— Sri Aurobindo, Indian guru and Philosopher
What Prevents Us From Seeing That Light?
The thoughts derived from our faulty mental constructs and illusions are the main cause of suffering.
Constructs like “we need this or that to be happy,” and “happiness is out there somewhere,” and the mental model that we do not have the choice over our emotional states. These are all just bullsh*t rules of society. And the very aspects of our awareness bar us from seeing that happiness can be found in the darkest of times.
Yes, there are times when things aren’t simply bright. There are moments of death and destruction in all of our lives. But these are very much lesser in number compared to the whole of our life moments.
Yes, those moments of sorrow are the memories that keep haunting us and make our present marred and gloomy. But this, too, is a weakness of the mind and habit of an untrained personality.
Foolish fears of the future and sticky guilts and regrets of the past make us sad as we do not simply acknowledge that dwelling on these is not at all benefiting us.
The Power of the Present Moment
Instead, if we simply focus on the present moment and what is at hand right now, we will be much more benefitted and happier.
Even in the darkest of times, if you look within and know that this too will pass, that these moments will give way to brighter days, then you can start feeling happy instantly.
It will surely happen, as it is the law of nature that nothing is permanent. A feeling of depression and dejection, too, will most certainly pass by.
You just have to persevere and know in your heart that happiness can be found in the darkest of times.
