What is the source of a good and happy life? For constant happiness, we have to find a constant life. The person who is always chasing one thing and then moving on to the other, can never reach a state of lasting ‘eudaimonia’. He can never build his character and flourish.Seneca explains this concept in his 23th Moral Letter to Lucilius. First of all, he states that a sound mind cannot be found by chasing trivialities. We have to focus on what is really important and not let ourselves be distracted.
Do you ask what is the foundation of a sound mind? It is, not to find joy in useless things (…) We have reached the heights if we know what it is that we find joy in and if we have not placed our happiness in the control of externals (…) The very soul must be happy and confident, lifted above every circumstance.
Physical health may feel important. Wealth may feel important. A large social circle of friends and family may feel important. And they are certainly to be preferred. But what is truly important, is not external. It is within us: a drive to do good and be good. And that’s the only thing we control.
To find this deeper, inner happiness is no easy task. Seneca compares it to mining riches: some gems might be found on the surface, but the real treasure is only discovered by digging deep.
The yield of poor mines is on the surface; those are really rich whose veins lurk deep, and they will make more bountiful returns to him who delves unceasingly (…) But the joy of which I speak, that to which I am endeavouring to lead you, is something solid, disclosing itself the more fully as you penetrate into it.
Trivial pleasures feel nice in the moment, but do not have a lasting impact on our happiness and flourishing. Indeed, they may even turn against us.
Pleasure, unless it has been kept within bounds, tends to rush headlong into the abyss of sorrow.
To focus on doing good is to take control of your life. If you chase useless things or activities, you are like a piece of wood drifting through the current of a river.
There are only a few who control themselves and their affairs by a guiding purpose; the rest do not proceed; they are merely swept along, like objects afloat in a river.
As driftwoord, you are dependent on the river course and the wind, and can just as well flow smoothly as suddenly hit a rock. But when you plot your own course, the water may be calm or raging and rocks may be few or frequent: you control where you go, and you control how you feel. Focus on what’s important, and don’t deviate from your course.