Many believed that once they overcame fierce entrance exam competition and entered a prestigious university, happiness would follow, and that by diligently building their credentials among accomplished friends and successfully landing a job, a rosy life would unfold.
However, no matter where they went, there were always people more outstanding than themselves, and to avoid falling behind among them, it became a daily routine to constantly worry and push themselves hard.
Given this situation, it is not uncommon to find an ironic circumstance where even those who appear to have successful lives cannot confidently answer that they are “happy.”
Regarding this unfortunate reality, Son Mina, a former KBS announcer and recent author of the psychological essay “One Day, My Heart Said It Was Unhappy,” stated, “It might seem like cutting in line or stepping on the accelerator on a congested road would get you there faster, but it doesn’t,” adding, “If you frequently change lanes, you might have experienced a moment when a car that was behind you suddenly ends up in front. This illusion that only the lane you are in is moving slowly is exactly what we experience in life.”
Son Mina herself was a model student during her school days, and after boldly ending her 10-year career as an announcer to start traveling the world, many envied her free-spirited life. Everyone supported her path of making decisions based on her convictions and embracing new challenges, and she quietly took pride in her own diligence.
However, the turning point in her life began when she, who believed she was living a life everyone admired, was suddenly overwhelmed by the thought that she was unhappy. This experience led her to realize the importance of focusing on herself and living fully in the present.
She reflected, “No matter how great so-called success is, it can never be exchanged for time, yet many people live sacrificing the present moment for some vague future. I, too, missed out on fully enjoying joys I should have and experiences with loved ones that will never come again,” adding, “I now understand that when going through not only good times but also painful ones, instead of rushing to escape those moments or experiences, we need to allow ourselves enough time to mourn the sadness.”
She also offered advice to many office workers who are struggling through tough days. Son Mina emphasized, “When you live too busily, caught in workaholism, you fail to properly nurture your relationship with yourself in the present moment, which leads to feelings of emptiness from time to time, and eventually, there comes a time when your heart cries out that it is unhappy,” stressing, “The key to happiness lies in taking even a brief moment in daily life to look into your own heart and check your state.”
Finally, she conveyed a message of encouragement: “I hope people do not choose to sacrifice the present entirely to overcome or avoid fears or anxieties about falling behind others. Living well in the present without forgetting which direction you are heading and taking care of the inner self is the way to maintain peace of mind. And when we maintain such peace, we can protect the happiness that is rightfully ours, even in the face of external disturbances.”
Son Mina’s “One Day, My Heart Said It Was Unhappy” is an essay that honestly and calmly depicts the dark inner world hidden behind the glamorous images of a broadcaster, editor, travel writer, entrepreneur, and female mentor. It tells the story of caring for one’s heart and living faithfully in the present while searching for the root of persistent thoughts in situations where there is no reason to be unhappy.
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