On Happiness as an Act of Rebellion

There is much literature out there on how to find, create, or manifest happiness in our lives. However, I would like to propose an alternate way of pursuing happiness — and I call it happiness as an act of rebellion. Per this point of view, I encourage us to tap into the feisty, resilient, and defiant sides of our beings, and to think about happiness as an act of rebelling against all the forces in our life that would keep us from it.

I think it’s undeniable that a large part of life is what I call “the grind.” No matter your station in life, one must confront the daily grind of life, which might entail putting in long hours at a job, the labor of raising children, studying for classes or exams, performing household chores, caretaking for someone who depends on you, paying the bills, doing our taxes, and other things of that nature. One school of thought is to find happiness in the very routine of the daily grind. I tend to think that the grind is exactly that — a grind. But I believe that happiness is to be found in little, juicy pockets hidden in between the daily grind. For example, sharing laughs with coworkers over lunch, achieving something at work that makes you proud, singing along to your favorite songs in the car, reuniting with your chattering children after school, enjoying a delicious homecooked meal for dinner, sweating it out at your favorite gym class, curling up on the couch with a great book, cuddling with your toddler at bedtime, or falling asleep in the warm embrace of your partner.

My theory is that, first, you have to recognize and stay thirsty for those juicy, little pockets of happiness embedded in the grind. And then you have to approach them with a sense of rebellion. You have to essentially tell yourself that, even though I got stuck in horrendous traffic, and my boss chastised me, and I argued with my partner, and my back pain is acting up, and the car needs repairs, and my kid’s teacher called with complaints, I am still going to find happiness in today! I am still going to savor all the delicious meals, the warm cups of coffee, the laughs shared with loved ones, the beauty of sunsets and blooming gardens, the cuddles with pets, the exhilaration of good workouts, and all the other juicy bits of happiness in between!

In order to tap into happiness, I do think the first step is acknowledging and accepting that life has a way of leaving us feeling defeated — whether it be through larger tragedies or smaller annoying moments that just pile up. When you feel defeated, I think it certainly makes sense to wallow in that feeling for a moment. Accept everything that accompanies that feeling of defeat, whether it be tears, or rage, or just a pervading sense of sadness. But once you have actively processed those feelings, it’s time to rebel! It’s time to say, “fu#@ you life, or diabetes, or cancer, or car repairs, or difficult coworker, or failing business, or unpaid bills (or whatever has you feeling defeated that day)! Regardless of how you have me feeling today, I am not going to let you get the best of me! I am greater than any one thing that brings me down! I will overcome, I will rise, and I will rebel! I do not accept anything that obstructs my capacity to find happiness!” And just like that, you will master finding happiness as an act of rebellion!