Is it good to strive for happiness? Or, by striving for happiness, do we create a limiting duality? That is, does happiness have a counterpart – is it unattainable without sadness? Stop. Think.

Can we not truly know happiness without feeling wrenching grief, without feeling pain, without suffering? Are happiness and suffering opposites?

Must we live in this undulation of emotion; must we merely ruminate in our pain; must we pray for it to pass to attain happiness again?

Can we eliminate the dualism of happiness and its counterpart? Can we, instead, bind our emotions – intertwine them – to see happiness in pain, and pain in happiness? Is there light in suffering? Is there darkness in joy?

Now, is it good to strive for happiness? I’d much rather question what I’m given; I’d much rather focus on the present. Every moment contains glimpses of light and flashes of dark. It is not our job to eliminate the darkness. It is not our job to uncover the light. Can we practice presence – true, unadulterated acceptance of who we are right now?

With self-acceptance, we can practice acceptance of others. With self-acceptance, we can feel at peace. And through feeling at peace with ourselves, we can attain peace amidst our surroundings. Let’s practice loving ourselves. That way, we can show others to practice love too.