piness is meant to be all that complicated?
… That bottomless pit that only exists because we keep digging away with the shovel of our longing.
Like the late great Bill Hicks said, life is a ride at an amusement park. It’s full of twists and turns and ups and downs … and no one rides for free.
And yes, there will be periods when happiness seems utterly impossible. When not even Richard Pryor himself could come back from the dead and get us to crack a smile.
Talk soon,
Leave a Comment:
92 comments
A great read. Motivating and energising. A firm committment to true happyness.
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That’s a powerful blog, the happiest I’ve ever been was when I had nothing !!
Reply I’ve had a very similar experience myself, in that the most miserable I was is when I had everything
Life is a trip, what a ride (=
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hey thanks Matt, never heard of that book, just googled it, looks interesting man, thanks for the hot tip
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I tried everything to fill that hole. Everyone has a void in their life, people will try money, possessions,relationships, love, drugs….anything. At the age of 23 I finally figured it out. I had gone to church my whole life and that helped, but religion isn’t quite it. the world is full of false religions. The answer (so many people have found) is a relationship with God that can only come through Jesus Christ. I discovered that people don’t share this to be pushy, but they really want people to discover that Jesus is the only thing that satisfies. After trying everything else I can say this is true. it’s not about church, but your relationship with Jesus.
Reply Hey Lana
I sure ain’t figured it out, but definitely enjoying this crazy journey as often as possible
I see by your URL that you’re into all this nutty self discovery stuff as well
Funny, how the less we think we know, the better off we are, at least that’s been my experience
You might like this: http://youtu.be/w2xzIgdD_XA
Reply Hey AJ, thank you so much for your input and sharing what works for you
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Happiness can be “achieved”, when we stop giving meaning and evaluations to situations and people. Everything is just what it is. It is neither good, nor bad. We give meaning to everything, and exactly that meaning turns us into slaves of live and brings sadness. Once we let go of our expectations of how “life is supposed to be”, we will be free to actually enjoy what life IS. :))
Once again great post!
Ines
Reply Hey Ines, hope you’re doing Girl
Yeah, “life is supposed to be” … that’s a real happiness killer ain’t
Things should be like this, like that, this should be happening, that shouldn’t be happening…. all day long
Been there. Hate it. Done with it. (=
Accepting the Isness of it all is the key ya know?
Funny, Isness, is very close to your name Ines
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I agree with all the sentiments expressed here but I also noticed that you only posted pictures of attractive and slim people in your article and so for me that was a real bummer because I felt it detracted from the credibility of the message that “outside” issues (and certainly appearance is an outside issue in a very literal way) don’t matter.
Reply Indra, there’s pictures of not only ugly people all over this blog, maybe just not in this post
But whatever works for you, each to their own I guess
thanks for your input, much appreciated and considered (=
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Great post Chris,
Loved it 🙂
Especially this quote that jumped out at me…
“The truth that you and I already know, is that if we’re not happy right here and now, we’re never gonna be happy then and over there…. no matter how perfect of a life we’re able put together when we get there.”
POWerful!
Reply Hey thanks Tim
( love your little wordpress avatar by the way with the helmet )
Ya know what’s funny, for years I had an idea of what the perfect life would look like, and I worked hard to make it happen, but when i finally got it, I was miserable as fuck
It was a HUGE lesson for me man, HUGE lesson
thanks again bud
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Why thank you Pamela, not being straight forward in past has cost me a lot
Always learning…
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Having a tough time today, mainly cos of the shit processed fake foods I have eaten, this has cheered me up. Your blogs are epicly awesome man, keep up the great work brother, we’re all in this together 🙂
Reply Damn Wayne, I know all about that shitty processed foods binge feel
Know it too well
Great thing is, a little exercise and a fresh raw veggie juice and you’re back to good
at least that’s how it’s worked for me
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Love it! One of my favorite sayings I’d “Decide to be happy no matter what happens, and then, no matter what happens, you’re Happy!”. Rock on, Big Chris!
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I so agree. I have lost many people who have been close to me.. and you know now I can’t remember what those dark days felt like now. I know they existed, but now I can’t remember the pain anymore…. and guess what ….the days are more beautiful and mostly I am pretty happy and on the days when I am not I try that phrase ..”this too will pass”. All the time I am breathing its my choice to get the best out of each day I am given, so if I choose not too I have to live with those emotions in just the same way that I live with happiness when I choose it. Thanks for a thought provoking blog. I’ve only just discovered you but I enjoy what you have to say!
Reply Right on Sheila and a big thanks
Sounds like you’re on a good path (=
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My friends and I, “Hunt the good stuff” everyday! We find at least 3 things that make us happy that day, and take the time to reflect on and share these things. It really helps to counteract the negative bias so many people seem to live by! I really enjoyed this article, thanks!!
Reply Maria, now THAT is awesome… it needs to be added to this: https://chrismccombs.net/great-ways-to-start-our-day/
so cool, thanks for the hot tip Maria
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Chris, I like how you put together “hardcore” and “happiness” into what it is. And it’s not one vs another. It’s all together, happiness has many flavors. Between future and past, there is just this moment of what it is. It may be a great pain or great joy, but that’s it. We cannot go further than that. I mean before you do something about trying to be happy – meditation, seeing positive things around, etc., you have to “got it”, the sticky point of what is now. Very tricky…it’s not just acceptance, it’s actually ENJOYING what it is now. Can we learn? hardly…you get it or not.
Reply What a crazy thing life is
It’s all a choice, right here, right now
I love the way Bill Hicks says it here:
Reply Thanks for the link. Love it!
My favorite quote of my teacher:
” Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming…Wow…What a ride!”
…though a well-preserved body would be nice to have also 🙂
I feel a little happier each time I read your blog and I think is a big deal be learning english, so I can have access to what you and many others good writers can share with us.
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I’ll be funky and add that I loved the gorgeous tatoos..weirdly, each time I saw her pic, I took a breath, refocused, and read on!
Whatever works, right 🙂
BTW,awesome word combo : Hardcore Happiness. LOVE IT.
Hey, I’m from Russia!
I will even share it in vk.com, which is a huge social network around the world (but no one in the US talks about it)
🙂
Great job!
OW Kristi, super cool of you
Amazing that this reaches you over in Russia
I remember seeing movies about Russia when I was a kid and you were the bad guys we we’re supposed to constantly fear
Now, you’re getting my blog posts all the fucking way over there, so awesome
and thanks a ton again for sharing
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YES.
That is all there is to it today – one big YES.
Thank you for reminding me!
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Once again great post Chris. You continue to inspire me. Thanks for that.
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Chris!!!
My God!
The black dog was biting at my heals yesterday, (some days feel better than others and in Australia we refer to depression lightly as the black dog).
I woke this morning to your post- it was just like your post on Serendipidity- to me! Of all days and moments in time when I needed a no bull shit pick me up from someone who is not flogging a certain religion, cause, motive or lack of empathy for our own challenges- you have absolutely nailed it!!
I struggle ALL the time with trying to meet other people’s opinions, expectations and atandards. I struggle bitterly to try to be everything to everyone- try to please EVERYONE! It’s such a hard thing to shake, but as you reminded me at the beginning of your post- let it all go if it doesn’t serve me!!
Chris- thank you SO SO sincerely!!
You have just made me feel brand new!!
A. 🙂
Reply Ahhhh, you just made me so happy
thanks Alanna
I know that black dog well ( although never heard that term )
Fuck him, he doesn’t deserve you
Give that white dog a big ass treat and pat on the head, he’s the one you wanna be with
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Reinforced what I already knew but somehow I needed a kick in the ass tonight! thanks for the reminder!!!
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I’ve been going through a difficult time. Emotionally and mentally
Big Chris’ words here are reminding and helping to live in the moment. Just BE in the feelings and do the best I can. Help others and move. I’m helping other people and I’m training hard. Doesn’t always help right away but I know better things will come
Reply It’ll pass brother, it’ll pass
Awareness and right action
you know the drill
glad the post helped some Chris
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enjoyed the “hardcore” spin on happiness- really helps hammer it home!
reassured some of the thoughts & writings I had in my last post as well about how at the end of the day, happiness just is. (And nothing else!)
have a big day 😉
Kaitlyn, (aka simplycomplicatedkait)
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Lots of Truth here Chris with a capital T. The answer is simple, yet impossibly hard. It is in each of us at any time but it is not as easy as it sounds and there is no shortcut.
We all fail in multiple instances within our lives – all of us – so reading this is good to reflect & recognize the power we have within.
I’ll give you a quick story/example of how the “over there” is impossible to reach – it is mythical actually.
Much of my adult life I’ve hovered around 240 pounds across my 6’2″ frame. I’ve always been active but not always in great visible shape – and its that last part that ate at me at times. Forget that I reached PR’s in Squat, Deadlift, etc. – I wanted to “look” the part and became obsessed with it. I dropped into the low 220’s and felt fantastic – hadn’t weighed under 225 since I graduated college. But it wasn’t enough. I pushed harder and made it under 210. Instead of being happy & satisfied I met this huge personal goal I lamented that I still had belly fat and lost muscle in getting down to that weight. The “over there” for me was no closer when I made it to 207 pounds than it was at 240. And I was miserable in the gym – literally punishing myself to lose more weight while trying to maintain muscle – tons of stress, which is counterproductive to any health & fitness. I crashed hard, burned out and went the opposite way – ignoring healthy diet & ignoring nagging injuries until my body started to rebel.
I train a lot smarter now. And I enjoy it a ton more. I still have goals – but I worry less about getting to that mythical “over there” and I’m enjoying the journey more.
Be well…
Reply Man Andy, thanks so much for sharing this
Dude, I had almost the EXACT experience. And I too crashed
These…
“I train a lot smarter now. And I enjoy it a ton more. I still have goals – but I worry less about getting to that mythical “over there” and I’m enjoying the journey more.”
Are wise words brother
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Hey Chris,
I’ve been following your stuff for a while now and have gained a great deal of appreciation for your bold, forward and unapologetic, masculine blog-style. No excuses. No fluff. No sales-pitch. I’ve struggled over the years with embracing my machismo for what it is – a blessing (my wife and kids are pleased with my metamorphosis).
You show that we can “lift things up and put them down” and not be idiots, numb to strong spiritual input/output.
Also of note, I’ve enjoyed seeing the transformation in your writing skills!!! It’s inspired me to start tapping the keys and scratching ink to paper again.
Damn the shrugs and rock the deadlifts!!
Jer!
Right on Jeremy, stoked to hear you’re writing
If you haven’t read “The War of Art” by Stephen Pressfield, it’s one of the few must reads for writers
You will love it, I promise. Short and punchy too.
Loved what you said about “lift things up and put them down” too
classic
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I just signed up for a muay thai gym and most people there are super nice but a few guys are assholes and try to sparr and kick me even tho it was mysecond fucking day. I left the gym after 3 hrs more depressed than id ever been. But im gonna keep going….thanks for the post and like rocky said lifes about how much u can get hit and keep goin
Reply Like everything, it takes time to get good at
and like everywhere, there are cool people and assholes
you may enjoy this: https://chrismccombs.net/life-lessons-from-bruce-lee-tyler-durde-rocky-balboa-and-muhammad-ali/
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Happiness is relative and you are a guy who’s gone thru a lot of shit,,,,,,, and your still on a journey…… I can’t wait to see where this trip takes you Bro! Because you sure make it interesting to read! Much respect!
Reply Hey right on Rick, appreciate it brother
Yes, it’s all relative
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Hey Chris im a great fan of your writing and what really strikes me is that you take out the time personally to answer everyones comments, thats really awesome bro .And keep kicking ass with those articles man
yours obedient
akul
ps: dont cut out the swearing , no matter wat anyone says ; peace !!!
Man it was one of the significant articles I would read in my life.
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