From Fame to Fulfillment: Rediscovering True Happiness
Where Has the Happiness Gone?
In a world that constantly pushes us toward success, we often forget what happiness truly means. Jolin Tsai, Taiwan’s most famous singer, offered a quote that made me rethink my perspective on life: “In the past, if I didn’t achieve 100%, I would blame myself. I felt I was not worth mentioning and had forgotten how to love myself properly.”
Jolin Tsai is one of the most influential divas in Taiwan’s music industry. She is as famous as Madonna was then and is often called the “Asian Madonna.” At 44 years old, Jolin frequently recalls her debut when she was 19. Looking back, she always feels a deep sympathy for her younger self.
When she first debuted, she was dubbed the “Teenage Killer” for her innocent appearance and soft singing voice. Her immense popularity among male fans on campus in Taiwan allowed her to release singles rapidly.
However, such fame had unhealthy consequences. Jolin set high standards for herself and felt pressure to maintain her popularity. This led to extreme dieting and relentless practice. At her young age, applause and love from fans defined her happiness. This often meant sacrificing her well-being for their adoration instead of pursuing true happiness.
She believed that fame equated to happiness. Even if it meant neglecting her personal life and interests, she thought earning the public’s love was worth it. After 25 years in the industry, however, Jolin laments that she lost sight of her true happiness while chasing fame.
Aside from her high self-requirements due to her career, aren’t we ordinary people often like this? Like Jolin, do we chase what we think is happiness, only to find it is superficial?
Indeed, people live to pursue happiness. Still, the “happiness” we seek often deviates from its original meaning. As Nour Boustani mentioned in his article, When You Accept Yourself, Happiness Finds Its Way Into Your Life: “Many of us confuse happiness with what can make us happy. Money, power, and fame may bring moments of joy, but they are not true happiness.”
Material happiness is undeniably the most immediate form of joy we experience. We chase achievements, money, milestones, and fame to feel “precious and special.” Attaining these brings happiness, leading us to believe we can find joy through them.
But can this kind of happiness genuinely last?
As the saying goes, “Those who stand in high places are often miserable.” People in high positions may appear happy, but it is uncertain whether they genuinely feel happiness. Those substantial gains might bring fleeting joy, yet they can still feel an underlying emptiness.
Those who find happiness in material possessions and fame may appear joyful. Nevertheless, their experience differs from those who live from true inner joy. As Danaya Bogdanova stated in her article, Happiness Is Hidden In The Little Things: “The happiest people are the ones who love the weather even when the sun isn’t shining.”
Those who live for inner happiness maintain a positive outlook despite challenges. As a result, they believe their hard work deserves rewards. In addition, they find small joys in daily life, often overlooked by those chasing fame or power.
Happiness should not be a prize from life’s competition. Instead, it should be a choice we make for ourselves. Whether successful or not, achieving big or small, or leading an ordinary life, this may be the happiest existence.
Perhaps true happiness lies in cherishing our every ordinary day, our lives, our families, and our friends.
In the song “The Song of Laughter and Forgetting” by Taiwan’s super group Mayday, a line goes like this: “My life’s sole aspiration is to be ordinary but happy. Who is to say this wish isn’t noble?” Maybe we don’t need to rely on fame or power to prove our happiness. As long as we can live a simple and healthy life joyfully, that is the most noble happiness.
Have you ever found yourself neglecting the little joys in your pursuit of happiness? How do you define your happiness?
