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The Student life is a golden period of the life. If anyone understands the importance of happiness in a student’s life, he could do a lot of wonderful things in his life.
Importance of Happiness in a Student’s Life: Perspective from Indian Philosophy
In Indian philosophy, there is an aphorism regarding students which implies that one who seeks comfort must forsake knowledge, while one who seeks knowledge must forsake comfort. How can one who desires comfort acquire knowledge, and how can one who desires knowledge enjoy comfort? At the time this sentiment was penned, children in the Gurukula system would live away from their parents, residing in the close proximity and under the direct guidance of a Guru (teacher) to receive their education. Whether a student hailed from a royal lineage or a humble background, their education and upbringing were treated with absolute equality.
Their daily routine demanded rising at the Brahma Muhurta (the auspicious hours before dawn) and, from that moment until retiring for the night, strictly adhering to a schedule dictated by the Guru’s commands. That era truly represented an invaluable phase of life-one in which students willingly renounced every form of worldly comfort to dedicate themselves entirely to the will of their Guru.
If we compare the present day with that bygone era, the difference appears as vast as the gap between the earth and the sky. Today, we have access to every conceivable means of comfort. We can pursue our studies while spending ample time with our families. For the majority of students today, studying is essentially their sole responsibility during this phase of life. Surrounded by electronic gadgets, they possess the facility and capability to access any piece of information from across the globe within a matter of seconds. Amidst all these conveniences, however, if one were to ask them about their happiness, their responses would likely vary significantly. There is a great importance of happiness in a student’s life.
How Happiness Makes Student Life Even More Valuable
1. Happiness enhances our inner strengths, enabling us to accomplish more work in less time.
2. Happiness boosts our physical and mental energy; consequently, even daunting tasks begin to feel effortless.
3. Studies have shown that students who are generally happier tend to achieve higher academic grades.
4. Research also indicates that if our state of mind is cheerful in the present, the academic results we achieve in the future are likely to be superior.
5. Emotions imbued with happiness broaden our scope of thinking, sharpen our attention, and significantly aid in problem-solving and creativity.
6. Students who feel good about themselves are able to achieve better results by remaining free from the effects of exam stress.
7. Happiness keeps us free from sleep-related problems; consequently, we feel energetic throughout the day.
8. Happiness also proves helpful in enhancing our analytical abilities.
9. Happiness enhances our heart health, immunity, endocrine system, and psychological capabilities.
10. A cheerful disposition makes our personality more attractive, thereby naturally fostering positive relationships with teachers and classmates.
11. The practical manifestation of happiness is enthusiasm. We approach every task as if it were a celebration. Consequently, by maintaining a high level of enthusiasm, we are able to achieve greater success.
12. In instances of physical or mental discomfort- regardless of the cause- a state of happiness significantly boosts our pain tolerance.
13. Extensive studies have also revealed that individuals who maintain a happy outlook tend to live longer and enjoy a higher quality of life compared to those who are unhappy or stressed.
We have now understood just how vital happiness is to us! Particularly during our student years, it serves to significantly amplify and enhance our achievements. After understanding the importance of happiness in a student’s life, now we move a step further.
The factors that tend to diminish our Happiness
1. Lack of sleep and spending excessive time in front of screens late at night have a severely detrimental effect on our physical and mental vitality, which, in turn, directly impacts our happiness.
2. A sedentary lifestyle, an unhealthy diet, and the consumption of intoxicants contribute to heightened stress, gloominess, and symptoms associated with depression. All these factors deal a severe blow to our sense of happiness.
3. Activities such as gaming, online shopping, and internet surfing may provide a fleeting sense of momentary happiness; however, over the long term, they exert a highly negative influence on our overall mood and psychological well-being.
4. Perfectionism, too, serves to diminish our happiness. While we naturally aspire to execute every task in the absolute best manner—often expending a considerable amount of time and energy in the process—we often fail to devote adequate attention to other essential aspects of life. Moreover, the pursuit of perfection is, by its very nature, endless. Constantly fixating on a single detail and investing disproportionate time in it eventually leads to a sense of dissatisfaction with oneself. And where there is no contentment, there can be no happiness.
5. Comparing yourself to your peers—and consequently deeming yourself either inferior or superior—robs us of our happiness in the long run. Remember: every individual is a unique creation in their own right. Everyone possesses distinct qualities and abilities, and we must certainly respect them.
6. Bitterness in family relationships or financial difficulties also, in one way or another, act as obstacles to our happiness.
7. Finding ourselves lagging behind in competition—or feeling left behind in the race to get ahead—breaks us from within, making happiness feel miles away.
8. If one encounters failure despite continuous effort, happiness feels completely out of reach.
These are some general points that illustrate the immense importance of happiness in a student’s life—as well as for other people! There are many other such factors that act as nothing less than enemies to our happiness; we will continue to discuss them in future articles.
Points to Ponder:
- Do I understand the importance of happiness in a student’s life?
- As a student, Am I satisfied with my own life?
- If not, what is the reason? Is it one of the factors mentioned above, or something else entirely? Take some time in solitude to reflect on this, and write down the reasons on paper.
- How can this be resolved? Address each reason, one by one. To do this, you may seek the assistance of your elders or trusted classmates.