Tranquility Is An Illusion

It is common to feel a sense of calmness that we fail to recognize. People often believe that possessing something they desire will bring them peace, but this belief eventually leads to a decline in satisfaction.

Let’s say I desire a car. Initially, excitement builds up. Eventually, I manage to save enough money to purchase the car. There is a period of enjoyment for a few months, followed by boredom. Issues arise such as low fuel or maintenance problems, causing stress to return.

Another scenario is wanting to marry a specific woman. The process becomes complicated from the moment of deciding to propose. What if she rejects the proposal? Despite these concerns, I proceed and receive a positive response. The relationship progresses, and feelings intensify. The desire to have her by my side permanently, leading to marriage, creates new tensions. A stable income is required to marry her, which demands significant effort and brings about more stress.

Despite facing obstacles, efforts are made to move forward. Challenges are met, conditions are overcome, and the marriage takes place. Initially, things run smoothly for a while, but issues arise when conflicts occur with family members or new demands emerge. As time passes, new stressors like planning for children’s future and marriages add to the tension.

According to Jean-Paul Sartre, Man is condemned to be free, condemned because he has not created himself, and yet is nevertheless at liberty, and from the moment he is thrown into this world he is responsible for everything he does.

It is essential to focus on the positive elements. Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning, emphasizes finding positivity within negativity. we cannot figure out essense of happiness unless we go through tensions.

To truly understand happiness, you must go through difficulties and challenges. There is no way around them. Many people try to find happiness through money, possessions, or success, but these things only create new desires and leave them wanting more. The more you chase peace and happiness, the more pressure and stress you often create for yourself.

Real peace comes when you stop treating happiness as a destination. Life is not a race with a finish line. It is a continuous cycle of effort, struggle, growth, and change. Since suffering is a natural part of life and cannot be completely avoided, it makes more sense to accept it rather than constantly run from it.

This idea can be seen in the Greek myth of Sisyphus. He was punished to push a huge stone up a mountain, but every time he reached the top, the stone rolled back down. He had to repeat this task forever. Although his work seemed meaningless, the philosopher Albert Camus believed that Sisyphus could still find happiness by accepting his situation and finding meaning in the effort itself.

That is why Camus famously said, “One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”