Happiness, peace, and satisfaction are inseparable; there is no real happiness without peace or satisfaction, and vice versa. In everything we pursue in life, we are ultimately searching for happiness. We spend hours on YouTube, Instagram, or chasing quick pleasures like food because we believe these will make us happy. Especially in our youth, we waste our energy and effort pursuing instant gratification, trying to find satisfaction and happiness in superficial ways.
I can speak from personal experience. Back in 2019, I was addicted to cheap dopamine sources—Instagram, Facebook, and other quick-fix distractions. I was stuck in the illusion that all this instant gratification could fill my emptiness.
But in 2020, my life took a turn. I began to realize that all these instant gratifications were shallow experiences. Real happiness and fulfillment lie beyond this illusion. The difference between a shallow experience and a truly meaningful one is that real happiness often requires hard choices and effort, but it brings lasting satisfaction. In contrast, shallow experiences offer easy choices and immediate satisfaction that fades quickly.
Since 2020, I’ve committed to hard choices—working out, meditating, reading, and journaling. I cut out cheap dopamine sources and began to channel my energy into these deeper experiences. Beyond the visible changes, this shift has compounded into even greater impacts on my life. First, it helped me break out of my comfort zone. Both shallow experiences and hard choices have a compounding effect: shallow habits led to a negative self-image and attention-seeking behavior, while hard choices brought positive changes. Working out improved my self-esteem and confidence, meditation brought self-control and inner peace, journaling helped me understand who I am and what I want, and reading expanded my wisdom. Overall, these hard choices have gradually transformed me.
These changes didn’t happen overnight—they evolved over 4.5 years. I started with a single habit, which grew into others over time. I encourage you to start with one habit that you believe will have the biggest impact. If you’re ever in a dilemma about choosing hard or easy options, remember that life is a long-term game. Hard choices are for long-term players.
By choosing hard paths, we can raise our baseline of happiness and build fulfilling careers, academic success, or any dream life we envision.
“If something gives you instant pleasure, beware—it’s likely to harm you in the long term.”
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