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Nouamane Hanchi

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Should we travel to find our happiness?

Should we travel to find our happiness? We are often forced to leave loved ones to go to find our happiness, we believe that it still exists in the 'Out There'. From my personal experience, I do not think this is always the case. What do you think?

Topics: happiness
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    Meriem Tahi

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    Dec 16 2012: I think that to be happy, we should accept ourselves and appreciate our lives. Travelling can be a great way to discover new perspectives, to discover ourselves and to push it to the limit. I believe that there is many great things in life that are waiting to be seen and discovered and each of those things can teach us something that may be a step forward to knowing ourselves better and finding happiness and the peace of mind that everybody is looking for.
    Travelling is also a way to meet people from all over the world, with different ideas and different stories. Living this kind of social diversity will only benefit to us, building a better us, experiencieng new sensations and learning from others lives. In my opinion, travelling might not be a direct road to happiness, but the experiences , whether they are good or bad that we go through while travelling, will definitely guide us to the right path of finding peace and happiness.
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    Jenny Chang

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    Dec 15 2012: I'm young. I had a 1-month journey this summer. I travelled with one of my friends. We went to many places in northwestern China. After the journey I was so tired that I think I should never leave home for such a long time. It's amazing because I like travelling very much. And now, I still love the feeling on the way. Although it's not wonderful as I think about, it's still a beautiful trip. I will never forget the people I met and the food I ate. It's so different from my hometown.

  • Anne T.

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    Dec 15 2012: Contentment and happiness must be something one searches for internally. Changing external factors such as a new location, lover, job, nose job, hairdo, etc are all temporary and superficial though they may be fun and entertaining. The search should be all about soul searching, gratitude, self improvement and self reflection.

  • deepti katariya

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    Dec 15 2012: actually, I think that travel explore new thing, new world to us...so we forget about our worries for some time...but we can't run away always..I mean, after some time/days, we have to come back in our routine life. so, i think we have to find happiness in our routine life & work. we have to think upon it..which thing make us happy? think & find out...:D

  • Rich Lindquist

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    Dec 15 2012: For my wife, daughter and I, the fun might have been in the destination - but the happiness was found in the journey.

  • Debbie Burchett

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    Dec 15 2012: My great-grandpa, who was the wisest person I have ever known and had a 6th grade education and worked in sawmills and pulp mills all his life, always told me, "If you get on a plane to escape your problems then they will be waiting for you at the airport you land in." It has always been my philosophy that "where you are... There you are." Happiness is an inside job and travel opens your mind but doesn't ease it
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    Maaher Sayeed 10+

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    Dec 14 2012: This is one of the strangest thing that amuses me. People from developed nations often travel to the 3rd world countries in search of peace. And return after having met a sage, or encountering various expereinces and some sense of realization of how blessed thay are already with one the understanding that their peace lies within themselves.

    I think some honest self introspection backed with serious efforts to undo any damage they have casued to themselevs and others to the best of their ability will earn them several humbling expereinces that will help people be at peace. The ability to forgive others as we expect others to forgive us will begin the journey within. I do not believe we need to cross femiliar boundries to find somethign that lies well within our reach.
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      Colleen Steen 500+

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      Dec 14 2012: Maaher,
      I agree that many times people travel from one place to another seaching for happiness/contentment. It is GREAT when these folks return realizing that peace lies within themselves. I suggest that some folks get excited by what they find elsewhere, and believe it is the place and the people "there" where peace, happiness, contentment is to be "found"!

      I agree that self introspection is needed anywhere, anytime we are seeking contentment. I suggest letting go of expectations of others may be a good place to start any journey. What good does it do to have expectations of others?

    • monica millefanti

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      Dec 14 2012: Why looking for such a high motivation in travelling? I love to travel, meet new persons, sharing experiences, trying good food, visiting new places...
      Of course feel happy and lucky but never thought to travel just to look for my own happiness.
      Happiness has nothing to do with travelling, I think, and hope travelling is not a way to escape unhappiness!

  • Brieuc Pénault

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    Dec 13 2012: haha no I agree with your sentence and Marcel Proust quote is also one of my favourite, I disagreed with the clear-cut point of view of Greg. Talking about traveling, I would make a difference between less and more than a year. One would be considered as visiting, with a low probability of making new long term friends, as the other one gives you a chance of really receative a "home" environment. Which form of travel are you talking about?
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      Colleen Steen 500+

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      Dec 13 2012: Well, we are all different and have different preferences:>)

      I speak about travel, as spending a considerable time in a place, backpacking, and interacting with people....no hotels, resturants or tourist "stuff":>)

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    Fatim Zahra AITABBOU

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    Dec 13 2012: It's not about travelling, it's about meeting new people, different from us! Exchanging with them makes us richer, learning about their culture and their habits makes us experience new things and see life from another point of view. And this is where happiness comes ! As Chris McCandless said, happiness is only real when shared. I'd add, it's even more real when shared with people from a different cultural background.

  • Eman Mahmoud

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    Dec 13 2012: NO ,happiness comes from yourself but some don't believe until they trying

  • greg dahlen 20+

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    Dec 12 2012: I think it's much more interesting and challenging to find new and interesting aspects of the place where you are living than to travel.
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      Colleen Steen 500+

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      Dec 13 2012: Good point Greg,

      "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes..."
      (Marcel Proust)

      If we really observe the people and things around us, we may discover the happiness that we are seeking....waiting to be recognized in each and every moment:>)

      • Brieuc Pénault

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        Dec 13 2012: I have to disagree with that. I m not saying traveling your whole life is the source of happiness but out of your environment people are really much more different. The language is one major point, it caracterise the thinking and the behaving of the people. Learning a new language in a foreign country is also then learning a complete new way of thinking. Thats challenging and your can only do it by leaving everything you knew home
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          Colleen Steen 500+

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          Dec 13 2012: I agree with you Brieuc, that out of our own environment people are different, and I personally have learned a great deal from traveling, which contributes to my happiness/contentment.

          I have also learned and grown within my own environment. We are all different, have different preferences, are more or less willing to evaluate our lives whether we are in our own environment, or traveling.

          My statement is..."If we really observe the people and things around us, we may discover the happiness that we are seeking....waiting to be recognized in each and every moment:>)

          What part of that do you disagree with?
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    Ghassan Mustafa

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    Dec 12 2012: Sometimes yes. But it is much better to be home and surrounded by your family and friends.
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    Nouamane Hanchi

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    Dec 12 2012: First, thank you for your comments ... For me, this is a personal issue, I am a student and I traveled to the pursuit of my happiness, but on arriving there where I always dreamed this dream was not so pretty as I had imagined ... I keep saying that hope is the best for the end, I hope this is the case for me
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      Colleen Steen 500+

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      Dec 12 2012: Dear Nouamane,
      You describe a common scenario. People sometimes have certain expectations, or imagination about what the end result will look or feel like, and that becomes the focus of the journey. Sometimes, if we have no special expectations about the end result, we may experience something even better than we could have imagined!

      I like to focus on the journey and what I learn with the exploration while being fully present in every moment of the adventure....make any sense? Perhap you have not yet "arrived", and the journey continues? I am 60+ years of age, and will ALWAYS be exploring with curiosity, which creates a LOT of continuous happiness/contentment:>)

      Happiness can be a way of travel, not only a destination:>)
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    Colleen Steen 500+

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    Dec 11 2012: Hello Nouamane,
    I agree with you that happiness is not "out there". The first place we need to "travel" to experience happiness, is in our "self". External situations and people can certainly contribute to our happiness, and ultimately, we recognize it in ourselves....or not....it's a choice.

    There is a nice little, easy read book:
    "HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE" - Barry Neil Kaufman

    It's a good "starter" for those who believe happiness is NOT a choice:>)
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    Omar Wani

    • +3
    Dec 11 2012: A teacher once told me:

    "There are three important things in life. The most important person is the person sitting across from you at this moment; the most important conversation is the chat you are having with this person; and the most precious time is the moment you spend with him/her". So happiness begins at this moment.

    Out there, there are many people to met, many chats to be had.

  • Jason Fleming

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    Dec 11 2012: Seeking is not running away. To me its best to seek within self first. Happyness /unhappyness can be found anywhere.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Dec 11 2012: Happiness is a choice. Life and living can not be perfect; there will be challenges and unpleasant surprises. But there will always be something or someone to be grateful for.
    So, a journey may help; but it is better to decide to face life with courage and be happy.
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    W. Ying 10+

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    Dec 11 2012: You are right!
    “This is not always the case!” Today!
    It was necessary for seeking food or habitat in 10,000 years ago

    So, travel gives us non-effective (invalid) happinesss.


    (For VALID and INVALID happiness, see the 1st article, points 1.1-3, at https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D&id=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D%21283&sc=documents.)

  • Dan Geurin 10+

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    Dec 10 2012: The longest trip I make is to the fridge :)
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    Vincenzo Sergi

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    Dec 10 2012: somebody said once. 'if your ship doesn't come in, swim to it'......
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      Colleen Steen 500+

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      Dec 11 2012: I LOVE that quote...
      "If your ship hasn't come in...swim out to it!"
      (Mary Engelbreit)
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        Vincenzo Sergi

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        Dec 13 2012: Yes Colleen, I like it also. It can be applied to so many situations.
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          Colleen Steen 500+

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          Dec 13 2012: Yes Indeed Vincenzo, We sometimes forget that we need to put in the effort to create what we want in the life adventure:>)
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    edward long 100+

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    Dec 9 2012: Travel, or anything else, can be enjoyed apart from happiness. One of the most persistent problems associated with unhappiness is the truism that says: "No matter where you go, there you are." If you travel "everywhere" and remain unhappy you will know that happiness is not venue determined. By the way, what do you mean by "happiness"?

  • tomas jones

    • 0
    Dec 9 2012: If it makes you happy, why not? Most people do like to have friends, family, or their clan close, but not everyone. Gotta do what makes you happy, not worry about someone else.
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