Three primary forms of Happiness.

 Eric Greitens says that there are three primary forms of happiness; The happiness of pleasure, The happiness of grace, and The happiness of excellence. He compares them to the primary colors, the basis for the entire spectrum.

The happiness of Pleasure is largely sensory, it's a good meal when you are hungry, the smell of the air after it rains, waking up warm, physical touches basically any pleasure you are getting through your sensory organ. The happiness of Grace is gratitude, spirituality, prayer, religion, or anything that includes inner joyous state, it's taking inventory of what you do have. It is when you speak to something greater than yourself, expressing humility then there is The happiness of  Excellence, the kind of happiness that comes from the pursuit of something great, not the moment you arrive at your desired destination, but the process of falling in love with the path you have taken. It is meaningful work. It is flow. It is the purpose that sears identity builds character and channels our energy towards something greater than fleeting desires.

Just as removing one of the primary colors would make many others impossible, without any of these happiness it is almost impossible to thrive.

One cannot replace another, they are all necessary. to be a complete satisfied human you need all three happiness in required proportion and situation. The happiness of excellence is the work of emotional resilience it is the highest ranking on Maslow's hierarchy, it is measured, deliberated, and consistent. It is often avoided because of the discomfort and the reward is not instantaneous, you will only understand this only after you fall in love with the process of life.

Though all three of the states of happiness are different, they are interrelated. Many of us are colorblind to the joys and complexities of our lives and it is because we are missing a part of the foundation we want it all but have no desire to develop discipline, we want to be legends, geniuses, and masters but care little to develop the discipline. 

Real happiness is not only how we can satisfy our senses, but also the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are becoming who we want and need to be. That is what we receive from pursuing the happiness of excellence; not accomplishments, but identity.  A sense of self that we carry into everything else in our lives. A tricolor pigment that makes the entire spectrum of happiness, and human, emotions comes alive. 

It takes a deeper realization and disciple to feel all three things in balance and life is all about learning and realizing how important all three are for being truly happy and feeling complete, one who is unaware and unsatisfied from any one of it is missing so much on life, feel the FOMO of this, feel real happiness its addictive.

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