Maulana Wahiduddin Khan I Speaking Tree Website I January 19, 2015

Everyone wants to live in happiness. But, everyone is deprived of happiness. Why? Because, people's criterion of achieving happiness itself is unrealistic. They are trying to find happiness where it is not present.

Deeper analysis of this issue tells us that people are constantly trying to finish those things that, according to their belief, go against achieving happiness. However, this way of thinking is unnatural.

People are in a state of constant unrest, which arises from a feeling of inadequacy. The truth it that inadequacy in life is not a problem. Instead, it is a challenge. There is a positive purpose of this natural challenge. Nature wants to unfold one's inner qualities. And, there is no other way except what may be termed 'shock treatment'. So, inadequacies are like shock treatment, meant to unfold a person's inner treasure.

The fact is that life is full of differences. Everyone tries to achieve his or her goal. This state of affairs leads to competition. And, it is this competitive situation that leads to human problems or social problems. One cannot abolish people's freedom. So, one cannot even abolish the present situation that appears to be unwanted.

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Then, what is the solution? The answer is very simple: take the differences as challenge. When one takes problems as a challenge, one would try to meet the challenge. This will activate one's mind, motivate and unfold one's inner capacity. The challenge will give a person a new target and inculcate in him positive thinking. All these things are the result of challenges of life. If one takes the situation as a problem, one will only become negative. But, if one takes problems as challenge, then one will become totally positive.

Happiness and unhappiness are both states of the mind. Unhappiness is the result of negative thinking, and happiness is the result of positive thinking. Negative thinking brings unhappiness, and positive thinking brings happiness.

Then, there is another point. When one takes things as challenge, it will help in one's intellectual development. It is a fact that in this world the greatest thing to be achieved by a person is intellectual development.

Then, what is happiness? Happiness is not simply a joyful state. Happiness is the result of a high kind of thinking. High thinking makes one a positive thinker. And, it is positive thinking that makes one happy in the true sense of the word. A positive mind is able to explain things at the rational level. If one cannot explain things at a rational level, one becomes unhappy. While, if one can explain things at the rational level, it will give one happiness.