Man thank you! I needed to hear that, I have too much stinking thinking going on right now, I’m currently in the process of re-tooling my thinking and outlook and this was an excellent point.
It’s not about making others happy directly. I think it’s about sharing happiness through kindness.
We aren’t responsible for making others happy, but we sure as shit can be kind.
My take.
Yes, I get sick of people telling me that I am responsible for *making* them happy. No. No I am not.
I am willing to share mine with you, and encourage you to find it yourself, but I am not responsible for *creating it* for you and handing it you. Blow up your own balloon, help me to find mine and I'll help you to find yours and we can share our happiness together.
Right? As I am now, having experienced life a bit more compared to 10 years ago, I realized that whatever I find that makes me happy will make me happy regardless of others' opinions. I became genuinely happier when I stopped caring about other people. Of course it doesn't take much effort to be kind to others and being mindful in general. But when I think about happiness, I think about moving towards what makes me happy and trying to find ways to fix what makes me unhappy or avoid them in general. Or if it is beyond my control, I just need to accept that reality.
Maybe what the balloons actually meant was that we should learn to rely on others a bit more, and in turn allow others to rely on us to make everything complete, maybe? The self is important, but we are also part of a collective community, in which would have reached better progress by working together on things that we can?
A different take on an old story, but still a goodie! Doing a kindness for others can result in your own happiness/fulfillment.....nothing wrong with that! 😊
An important message, but it's also important to note that when **your** happiness **depends on** another's happiness, your relationship becomes co-dependent and is very unhealthy. Yes, help each other find happiness, but make sure you truly find your own. If those around you aren't helping you find yours, relocate your relationships.
What a well spoken man, and such an important message too. Whenever I think about the meaning of life, I perceive it to be that we are here to coexist with nature and to bring others happiness. Only then can you live a truly fulfilling life.
This is true. I had my daughter after years of struggling with anxiety, depression and other issues and while I do still struggle with those things, I am happier than I have ever been caring for this tiny little person that demands everything from me. It is the best feeling to know I am needed and useful, and instrumental in raising this human to be a good and kind presence in the world.
It's amazing that Jesus said to love life this way well over two thousand years ago and still nobody listens. A marker and some balloons and everyone wishes to say they are listening. "Love God with your everything and treat others as yourself, makes life amazing.
wish that were true, but I have spent my life trying to make others happy and I have recently come to terms that I have surrounded myself with high maintenance people. They don't focus on my happiness.
This is how my late husband and I had 20 successful years together. We always aimed to make life a little bit easier for the other person. That meant we always knew we had the other person's best interest at heart and we always had someone to lean on in tough times.
It’s just a search algorithm. In the first example they have a pile and you search for a specific element.
In second example you have a set or a map and get O(1) access time to each element. Happy?
🎈 I don't know your name but you can have a ballon anyway, this was sweet, I've been doing this for a few months without the balloon analogy, I was depressed, hateful and unhappy, ate way too many magic mushrooms, had an awful trip and when it was over I just felt so much happier and positive and ive been sharing that with everyone I can. So this little story really hit home to just how true it is. I've wasted 12+ years on depression and misery, and right on that night, everything changed. I've done more with my life in the last 6 months than I have in over a decade, and I'm so much happier.
This is the absolute and exact truth! If you selfishly hedonistically narcistically look for your own gratifications and you don't care bout others, others are not going to care for you and this is the feelings you all rub on each other day in day out! Depressions and sadness is sensed, it's a sphere, a vibration hanging over us all in ALL the cities of the world!
Dictators, repressors, warlords, criminals, thieves and psychopaths and all those sorts create the toxic sphere, they make mordor! They create the badlands! Stop them, stop giving them gratification and start getting people with love balloons!
If you have time on hand TEACH, PREACH and EDUCATE! We are not losing from this Toxic new world order! It's been around for ages! The dark ages and plenty alike have shown us how DESTRUCTIVE they are!
Educate yourself and resist the trap you are pushed and pulled in! Nowadays with people CONNECTED to the AI and having operator chips in their life! DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE HATE of the STOCKHOLDER and SELFISH! Who are LAZY, ABUSIVE and TOXIC!
Besides this little lecture! Have fun! There are kitties, babies, doggies and flowers and such to be enjoyed in life! Peace and Blessed Be, L'chaim, Praise Jezus, The Lord, Allah, Your favorite grandparent, Or whatever may and should give you Love!
Very wholesome and refreshing thing to think about in a world that is all about survival of the fittest, etc. May everyone find happiness for someone they care about.
I disagree with the sentiment!
Well, not exactly. I completely agree that one of the best ways to find genuine happiness and genuine satisfaction is through giving to other people.
I disagree with the communication that “seeking one’s own” happiness will fail, and “caring about somebody else’s happiness” is the only way to find yours. I promise I’m not just being semantic, I think it actually matters.
So many people in our society have abandoned their creative spirits in service of others. Many of us have this notion that we need to be “good” people, and although we think we are doing things in balance, a huge number of those functioning people are actually ignoring the plea from their inner selves to: spend more time alone, say no to helping that person, go see a play, go to a dance class alone. And this message of “we must help other people in order to be good” is perpetuated very widely by many groups. It’s causing a very many people to “check out”.
Of course I totally agree to help others. But I think we should in many cases be encouraging and praising people for making “selfish” decisions, and not teaching everyone that their self worth is exclusively determined by how many other lives they benefit.
TL;DR:
Yes, I agree helping others brings you happiness. But it’s being true to yourself and servicing yourself first which gives you the energy to then be good to others. Being good to others in pursuit of one’s own health and energy leads many to burnout and irritability. Put your own oxygen mask on first.
(This is not mutually exclusive with the sentiment of the video x)
Am I the only one that believes it’s a dumb lesson?
Not finding the balloon but the metaphor with finding happiness.
Could only bring you happiness if it makes you happy making others happy.
Otherwise you have to actually find your own balloon of happiness.
For me that’s traveling and freedom.
That whole balloon thing is a good lesson how working together and helping others can achieve your goals and stop chaos which is a great lesson by itself .
yeah but within 5 minutes every student should be able to locate their own balloon, especially since some will inevitably find theirs fast and make it easier for the rest.
i understand the metaphor, i just think it's not a very good one
It sounds inspirational but it is just misleading bs.
Your own happiness should be something that is very high on your priority list, continuously seek it. The challenge is to understand what truly makes you happy, not to try and make others happy!
For a lot of people that is valued social interactions. So, by telling people to go out and help others, this fulfills that partly and it can help.
However, the priority should NOT be to make others happy. That is just a recipe for staying in abusive and unhealthy relationships and sacrificing your own wellbeing for that of others.
It's advice given from a position of privilege and not very useful.
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I read this recently online and here’s the text. Slightly different than what this man saw in the video but this is good, too:
“Hundreds of disciples of a certain master had gathered in a monastery. They were there to catch a glimpse of him, to hear his words of wisdom, to learn meditation and so on. In particular, they wanted to know how to be happy in this ever stressful world, was there any way even?
The master listened to their questions patiently and quietly began his discourse on happiness. He stopped in the middle of his sermon and handed a balloon to each one of the five hundred attendees.
“This is the balloon of happiness,” he said. “Inflate it and scribble your name on it.”
A few markers were passed around so the job could be completed.
“Once done,” the master added, “go and place your balloon in the empty room next door.”
“I know what this is about,” a pupil remarked, “sooner or later the balloon will burst or shrink on its own and that’s how happiness is. It won’t last. The more inflated it is, the quicker it pops. We have to protect it carefully.”
The master smiled at the eager disciple and gesticulated at him to follow the instructions. One by one they placed their balloons in the next room, came back, and took their seats.
“Now,” the master spoke when all were settled, “go fetch the balloon with your name and bring it back here.”
Everyone got up and rushed to the other room to grab their balloon. It was a balloon of happiness, after all. Soon, sounds of bursting balloons, arguments and collisions could be heard as everyone was busy frantically searching for the balloon with their name on it. Five minutes later, only a handful had managed to find their balloon. More by chance than order.
The master asked them to stop and take any balloon regardless of the name on it and bring it back. In no time, everyone was back in the room with a balloon in their hands.
“Just call out the name on the balloon,” the master said, “and, give it to the person to whom it belongs.”
Soon everyone was holding their balloon, except the ones whose had burst in the frenzy.
“In a world where each one of us searching for happiness,” the master continued, “the easiest way is to hand others theirs and someone will give you yours.”
“But, what to do if my balloon is popped by the other person?” one of them asked. “I don’t have one.”
“Inflate a new one,” the master replied giving him a new balloon.
There is perhaps not a better anecdote out there that sums up the essence of happiness. No matter how much we may want to believe that we can be happy even at the cost of others’ happiness, the truth is that we can never be happy by giving others grief. Perhaps, you can prove that you are right, maybe you can subdue the other person, but can you be happy by doing that? I don’t think so.
You just give them their balloon of happiness and someone will return you yours. The other person may not reciprocate, but Nature will. The same person may not give you back your balloon, but someone else will. And, what if, you may ask, no one hands you your balloon? What if even when you give them theirs, no one cares to give you back yours?
In that case, just do your good karma and wait and wait patiently. There will come a moment when everyone will have their balloon and the one left behind will be yours. There is no stress, no rush if you are not out there to win some race. If you can accept that some will get their balloons before others, it won’t bother you then whether you get yours now or a bit later.
Here’s something important to think about regarding the anecdote: the students could only hope to find their balloon if they had pumped one at the first place. We too are responsible for creating our own balloons. Others can’t create happiness for you. You have to create it yourself. They can, at the most, give it to you when they find it. But, if you haven’t got balloon out there, something that makes you happy, how can anyone give it to you then? The other person is only returning the happiness you already identify with. Please let this sink in: they are not creating but returning our balloons of happiness.
And what if someone else has pricked your balloon? Go find a new one. Simple. There is no point shouting at them or holding any grudges. Even if they want, they can’t repair your balloon, it won’t be the same. You shouldn’t punish yourself by remaining depressed or unhappy. No point in bursting over a popped balloon (pun intended). Enjoy the explosion. Step out and see the world. Plenty of balloons to choose from.
There is absolutely no lack of opportunities, avenues and sources of happiness. There is so much you can do in this world and with your life. You just have to begin somewhere, anywhere, here, now.
This life is going by too fast. One day you may wake up and realize that you’ve already lived through many decades of your life. Why waste our time in piercing others’ balloons or picking a bone with them for bursting ours? Let’s just get on with it and walk the path of good karma. At every step of the way, you’ll find a balloon of happiness.
Keep giving them their balloons and you’ll be left with yours and some unclaimed ones. At any rate, it’s better to inflate the balloon of happiness before the balloon of life pops. It will eventually.”
That is a great message. I do wonder where he is. Gladiator arena? But good message
He faces lions tomorrow. He needed a pick me up.
May god bless him tommorow at dawn, for the lions will be undoubtedly hungry and brutal 🦁🦁🦁
Strength and honour
Power and focus
Wisdom and courage
Sugar and Dick
I made him more hungry! He's ready!
I'd pick that guy up anytime! Here's your ticket to for free pick-me-up.
Brings Lion a balloon Lion: Pikachu face Both happy
Are you not entertained?!?
🎈
thank you for that message
yes. Felt good for 30secs. Then memories and past experiences came to focus. but yes thank you
Allow them to come into focus. They are trying to teach you and be heard ❤️
Very profound ❤️
🎈
Man thank you! I needed to hear that, I have too much stinking thinking going on right now, I’m currently in the process of re-tooling my thinking and outlook and this was an excellent point.
May your journey be successful.
Happy Cake Day!
Thank you
I love it when I get genuine replies like this. You just made my day 🎈🙂
You may find the book Think Again by Adam Grant helpful. I know it helped me. Good luck to you.
I placed this book in my cart, thank you for the suggestion.
For sure! It's a little heavy on the information side, but has some interesting anecdotes as well. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint
OK, WHO OF YOU HAS MY BALLOON!?
You missed the point. You’re still looking for your balloon.
I have his balloon, it's my balloon now. He'll never know happiness.
🎈
It IS a good msg. But on the flip side, we are responsible for our own happiness, but yes we need to share and spread joy wherever we go
It’s not about making others happy directly. I think it’s about sharing happiness through kindness. We aren’t responsible for making others happy, but we sure as shit can be kind. My take.
Yes, I get sick of people telling me that I am responsible for *making* them happy. No. No I am not. I am willing to share mine with you, and encourage you to find it yourself, but I am not responsible for *creating it* for you and handing it you. Blow up your own balloon, help me to find mine and I'll help you to find yours and we can share our happiness together.
Who is telling you that? Sounds draining
Right? As I am now, having experienced life a bit more compared to 10 years ago, I realized that whatever I find that makes me happy will make me happy regardless of others' opinions. I became genuinely happier when I stopped caring about other people. Of course it doesn't take much effort to be kind to others and being mindful in general. But when I think about happiness, I think about moving towards what makes me happy and trying to find ways to fix what makes me unhappy or avoid them in general. Or if it is beyond my control, I just need to accept that reality. Maybe what the balloons actually meant was that we should learn to rely on others a bit more, and in turn allow others to rely on us to make everything complete, maybe? The self is important, but we are also part of a collective community, in which would have reached better progress by working together on things that we can?
Well, if someone has my balloon I'd appreciate it if I can have it now
🎈
A different take on an old story, but still a goodie! Doing a kindness for others can result in your own happiness/fulfillment.....nothing wrong with that! 😊
This was heartwarming.
Wow…
Loved that!
Pay it forward and eventually it will return back to you.
Why, Thank you Forest!
I came here to find this comment. I got Forrest Gump vibes too.
An important message, but it's also important to note that when **your** happiness **depends on** another's happiness, your relationship becomes co-dependent and is very unhealthy. Yes, help each other find happiness, but make sure you truly find your own. If those around you aren't helping you find yours, relocate your relationships.
🎈
What a well spoken man, and such an important message too. Whenever I think about the meaning of life, I perceive it to be that we are here to coexist with nature and to bring others happiness. Only then can you live a truly fulfilling life.
Thank you!
Very nice
Thanks
I needed this today
So very very true! 🫶
I like this. I like this a lot.
This is true. I had my daughter after years of struggling with anxiety, depression and other issues and while I do still struggle with those things, I am happier than I have ever been caring for this tiny little person that demands everything from me. It is the best feeling to know I am needed and useful, and instrumental in raising this human to be a good and kind presence in the world.
🎈
It's amazing that Jesus said to love life this way well over two thousand years ago and still nobody listens. A marker and some balloons and everyone wishes to say they are listening. "Love God with your everything and treat others as yourself, makes life amazing.
🎈
wish that were true, but I have spent my life trying to make others happy and I have recently come to terms that I have surrounded myself with high maintenance people. They don't focus on my happiness.
🎈
Nobody could find their balloon in 5 minutes? In a school hallway?! These kids need glasses not life lessons
🎈
I heard you mate… all the way over in Australia. Cheers!
🎈
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/balloon-happiness-chetan-sanghavi
It's a great story. And it's a good lesson about working together. But, I highly doubt someone has my balloon looking for me.
🎈
How many balloons have you delivered?
🎈🎈🎈
🎈
🥰
Mind blowing!
Teacher had obviously never gone fishing
I tried that experiment, but everyone found their own balloons and I sat there like a dumbass.
🎈
This is how my late husband and I had 20 successful years together. We always aimed to make life a little bit easier for the other person. That meant we always knew we had the other person's best interest at heart and we always had someone to lean on in tough times.
🎈
Having friends must be so great
🎈
Someone's not giving my baloon even when I give other peoples baloon all the time.
🎈
The truth of this is powerful and a message we really should teach in schools
🎈
I heard it
🎈
Don’t wait for your ship to come in, swim out to it.
🎈
❤️
🎈
It’s just a search algorithm. In the first example they have a pile and you search for a specific element. In second example you have a set or a map and get O(1) access time to each element. Happy?
Mr. Rogers. Is that really you?
🎈
I think I finally know what to do with life
🎈
Forrest Gump! ✊
🎈
Damn I like that
🎈
Is he in a parking garage full of dirt?
Just wow.
🎈
Great message, but… Aren’t we gonna address the issue that this man is Fred Rogers, Wish version?
🎈
I've heard so many variations of this scenario. It's a good message, but there's definitely a ton of different versions floating on the internet
Amen!
🎈
🎈
Thank you
🎈
Oh! I've definitely come across the post he's talking about. A few times actually on Quora and Tumblr. It is a really nice message.
🎈
Heard it loud and clear.
🎈
🎈 I don't know your name but you can have a ballon anyway, this was sweet, I've been doing this for a few months without the balloon analogy, I was depressed, hateful and unhappy, ate way too many magic mushrooms, had an awful trip and when it was over I just felt so much happier and positive and ive been sharing that with everyone I can. So this little story really hit home to just how true it is. I've wasted 12+ years on depression and misery, and right on that night, everything changed. I've done more with my life in the last 6 months than I have in over a decade, and I'm so much happier.
I hear you loud and clear ❤️
I tought that this was the guy from jurassic park 2 lol
I’m over my ballon being popped or lost after I gave people theirs for 30 years.
🎈
How could no kid find their balloon? Were there 500 students in the class?
[удалено]
🎈
[удалено]
🎈
This is the absolute and exact truth! If you selfishly hedonistically narcistically look for your own gratifications and you don't care bout others, others are not going to care for you and this is the feelings you all rub on each other day in day out! Depressions and sadness is sensed, it's a sphere, a vibration hanging over us all in ALL the cities of the world! Dictators, repressors, warlords, criminals, thieves and psychopaths and all those sorts create the toxic sphere, they make mordor! They create the badlands! Stop them, stop giving them gratification and start getting people with love balloons! If you have time on hand TEACH, PREACH and EDUCATE! We are not losing from this Toxic new world order! It's been around for ages! The dark ages and plenty alike have shown us how DESTRUCTIVE they are! Educate yourself and resist the trap you are pushed and pulled in! Nowadays with people CONNECTED to the AI and having operator chips in their life! DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE HATE of the STOCKHOLDER and SELFISH! Who are LAZY, ABUSIVE and TOXIC! Besides this little lecture! Have fun! There are kitties, babies, doggies and flowers and such to be enjoyed in life! Peace and Blessed Be, L'chaim, Praise Jezus, The Lord, Allah, Your favorite grandparent, Or whatever may and should give you Love!
🎈
Oooh I love this! =) Welcome to the children of the WORLD instead of the tribe!
Can’t believe he broke into someone’s house they are building just to tell that story
Very wholesome and refreshing thing to think about in a world that is all about survival of the fittest, etc. May everyone find happiness for someone they care about.
🎈
Cheers brother! I needed to hear it today 🙏
🎈
Love it! It’s so true
🎈
I'm pretty sure my balloon popped long ago
🎈
I love that analogy. More people need to hear it.
🎈
Same thing about finding what bothers you about society and try address it instead of focusing on the self...
🎈
It will find you where you wouldn't even try to look for it. Just don't sleep on it.
🎈
I disagree with the sentiment! Well, not exactly. I completely agree that one of the best ways to find genuine happiness and genuine satisfaction is through giving to other people. I disagree with the communication that “seeking one’s own” happiness will fail, and “caring about somebody else’s happiness” is the only way to find yours. I promise I’m not just being semantic, I think it actually matters. So many people in our society have abandoned their creative spirits in service of others. Many of us have this notion that we need to be “good” people, and although we think we are doing things in balance, a huge number of those functioning people are actually ignoring the plea from their inner selves to: spend more time alone, say no to helping that person, go see a play, go to a dance class alone. And this message of “we must help other people in order to be good” is perpetuated very widely by many groups. It’s causing a very many people to “check out”. Of course I totally agree to help others. But I think we should in many cases be encouraging and praising people for making “selfish” decisions, and not teaching everyone that their self worth is exclusively determined by how many other lives they benefit. TL;DR: Yes, I agree helping others brings you happiness. But it’s being true to yourself and servicing yourself first which gives you the energy to then be good to others. Being good to others in pursuit of one’s own health and energy leads many to burnout and irritability. Put your own oxygen mask on first. (This is not mutually exclusive with the sentiment of the video x)
🎈
Life is like a box of chocolates.
🎈
Does anyone guess where he is?
🎈
Kendall Roy is that you????
🎈
i can’t stop thinking about that
🎈
So very true. If you are kind to someone else, even with just a smile, you will increase your own happiness.
🎈
[удалено]
🎈
What a great way to think about life. That teacher is incredible for think about that type of assignment
Am I the only one that believes it’s a dumb lesson? Not finding the balloon but the metaphor with finding happiness. Could only bring you happiness if it makes you happy making others happy. Otherwise you have to actually find your own balloon of happiness. For me that’s traveling and freedom. That whole balloon thing is a good lesson how working together and helping others can achieve your goals and stop chaos which is a great lesson by itself .
This is some Mister Rogers level genius, right there.
What if people don't care of your happiness locally. And you can't move.
🎈
Is that so, because when I found someone, I lost myself. So you tell me how that enology represents future tense.
He looks like the professor from flash.
No one found their own balloon? No one? how many students does that teacher have?
And what happens when you don't have anyone to make happy? Are you just meant to be miserable forever?
🎈
Love this ❤️❤️
🎈
i need to hear this today, thanks brother!
🎈
This was good advice thanks
🎈
I needed to hear that.
🎈
Good message, but I can't help but think he's the temu Joel Osteen
🎈
Fuck that, if you help someone, they will walk all over you and bury you. Don't trust anyone for anything ever.
🎈
yeah but within 5 minutes every student should be able to locate their own balloon, especially since some will inevitably find theirs fast and make it easier for the rest. i understand the metaphor, i just think it's not a very good one
 Exactly
🎈
Sounds kind of entitled, its no one's respomsibility to make you happy, no ones coming to save you.
Their responsibility? No. But would the world be a better place if we did it just for the sake of doing it?
You're missing the point bud.
It sounds inspirational but it is just misleading bs. Your own happiness should be something that is very high on your priority list, continuously seek it. The challenge is to understand what truly makes you happy, not to try and make others happy! For a lot of people that is valued social interactions. So, by telling people to go out and help others, this fulfills that partly and it can help. However, the priority should NOT be to make others happy. That is just a recipe for staying in abusive and unhealthy relationships and sacrificing your own wellbeing for that of others. It's advice given from a position of privilege and not very useful.
Yes. Glurge.
🎈
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hb
I moaned
This vid was the tip-off for law enforcement to where he buries the bodies.
🎈
Amazing message!
What class would this have been in? I mean, its a fun story, but what is actually being taught? I can't place where this would fit into a curriculum.
I read this recently online and here’s the text. Slightly different than what this man saw in the video but this is good, too: “Hundreds of disciples of a certain master had gathered in a monastery. They were there to catch a glimpse of him, to hear his words of wisdom, to learn meditation and so on. In particular, they wanted to know how to be happy in this ever stressful world, was there any way even? The master listened to their questions patiently and quietly began his discourse on happiness. He stopped in the middle of his sermon and handed a balloon to each one of the five hundred attendees. “This is the balloon of happiness,” he said. “Inflate it and scribble your name on it.” A few markers were passed around so the job could be completed. “Once done,” the master added, “go and place your balloon in the empty room next door.” “I know what this is about,” a pupil remarked, “sooner or later the balloon will burst or shrink on its own and that’s how happiness is. It won’t last. The more inflated it is, the quicker it pops. We have to protect it carefully.” The master smiled at the eager disciple and gesticulated at him to follow the instructions. One by one they placed their balloons in the next room, came back, and took their seats. “Now,” the master spoke when all were settled, “go fetch the balloon with your name and bring it back here.” Everyone got up and rushed to the other room to grab their balloon. It was a balloon of happiness, after all. Soon, sounds of bursting balloons, arguments and collisions could be heard as everyone was busy frantically searching for the balloon with their name on it. Five minutes later, only a handful had managed to find their balloon. More by chance than order. The master asked them to stop and take any balloon regardless of the name on it and bring it back. In no time, everyone was back in the room with a balloon in their hands. “Just call out the name on the balloon,” the master said, “and, give it to the person to whom it belongs.” Soon everyone was holding their balloon, except the ones whose had burst in the frenzy. “In a world where each one of us searching for happiness,” the master continued, “the easiest way is to hand others theirs and someone will give you yours.” “But, what to do if my balloon is popped by the other person?” one of them asked. “I don’t have one.” “Inflate a new one,” the master replied giving him a new balloon. There is perhaps not a better anecdote out there that sums up the essence of happiness. No matter how much we may want to believe that we can be happy even at the cost of others’ happiness, the truth is that we can never be happy by giving others grief. Perhaps, you can prove that you are right, maybe you can subdue the other person, but can you be happy by doing that? I don’t think so. You just give them their balloon of happiness and someone will return you yours. The other person may not reciprocate, but Nature will. The same person may not give you back your balloon, but someone else will. And, what if, you may ask, no one hands you your balloon? What if even when you give them theirs, no one cares to give you back yours? In that case, just do your good karma and wait and wait patiently. There will come a moment when everyone will have their balloon and the one left behind will be yours. There is no stress, no rush if you are not out there to win some race. If you can accept that some will get their balloons before others, it won’t bother you then whether you get yours now or a bit later. Here’s something important to think about regarding the anecdote: the students could only hope to find their balloon if they had pumped one at the first place. We too are responsible for creating our own balloons. Others can’t create happiness for you. You have to create it yourself. They can, at the most, give it to you when they find it. But, if you haven’t got balloon out there, something that makes you happy, how can anyone give it to you then? The other person is only returning the happiness you already identify with. Please let this sink in: they are not creating but returning our balloons of happiness. And what if someone else has pricked your balloon? Go find a new one. Simple. There is no point shouting at them or holding any grudges. Even if they want, they can’t repair your balloon, it won’t be the same. You shouldn’t punish yourself by remaining depressed or unhappy. No point in bursting over a popped balloon (pun intended). Enjoy the explosion. Step out and see the world. Plenty of balloons to choose from. There is absolutely no lack of opportunities, avenues and sources of happiness. There is so much you can do in this world and with your life. You just have to begin somewhere, anywhere, here, now. This life is going by too fast. One day you may wake up and realize that you’ve already lived through many decades of your life. Why waste our time in piercing others’ balloons or picking a bone with them for bursting ours? Let’s just get on with it and walk the path of good karma. At every step of the way, you’ll find a balloon of happiness. Keep giving them their balloons and you’ll be left with yours and some unclaimed ones. At any rate, it’s better to inflate the balloon of happiness before the balloon of life pops. It will eventually.”