Crossfire
Flowing With Life: A New Year’ s Reflection On Happiness And Contentment
By Herman Githinji
As the new year unfolds, it is a time to reflect on the past and contemplate the possibilities of the year ahead. In the past, I embraced a 360-degree approach to goal setting, focusing on growth in the mind, body, spirit, commerce, career, and social connections. However, as the years have passed, I have found it increasingly difficult to push for progress in every area. Instead, I have chosen to align with the natural flow of life, which feels more harmonious and fulfilling- not as surrendering to fate, but as trusting the journey.
Recently, while sitting by a river, I observed its gentle yet determined flow toward its destination- a sea or lake.
Everything in the water, from small debris to leaves, was carried effortlessly downstream. A particular leaf caught my attention. It floated joyfully and peacefully, harmoniously surrendering to the current. This image stayed with me, making me wonder: Isn’ t this how we should live our lives?
Swimming upstream is exhausting. It means resisting the natural course, defying the flow, and going against the grain. Sometimes, life feels like an uphill struggle, and it begs the question: Are all our aspirations upstream? Achieving them often requires relentless effort, leading to exhaustion and frustration. But when the
river flows naturally, it moves with ease, aligned with nature and its surroundings. This year, I seek alignment by setting goals that lead to happiness, whether or not they’ re fully achieved.
Happiness is my main goal this year. I want to pursue it intentionally, avoiding goals that feel like swimming upstream against my natural course. Instead, I’ ll focus on those that bring peace and joy, minimizing pain and maximizing fulfillment. I appreciate that happiness is an elusive goal to pursue because of unrealistic expectations, comparison to others, society pressures, focusing on negative aspects, fear of failure, and the fleeting nature of positive emotions.
Acknowledging life’ s impermanence brings humility and focus. It reminds us to cherish every moment and recognize that while life is precious, it is also fleeting. When you are enjoying something nice, there is a deeper appreciation and utility you derive from it by knowing that it will surely get finished.
To achieve happiness, I’ ll prioritize outward-focused goals that serve others, rather than inward-looking ones driven by self-interest. While personal growth is vital, I also want to give, serve, and connect with others. Much like a river deposits its accumulations before it meets the sea, there comes a time in life to reconcile what we’ ve gained with what truly matters. The satisfaction I feel when I get something is the same I would like to feel when I give.
Gratitude is a key part of my happiness plan. Without a genuinely thankful
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