Why Happiness Feels Hard When It’s Actually Simple

Happiness isn’t complicated — we’ve just been looking in the wrong direction.

It’s a well-known truth: today’s younger generation is the future. In today’s fast-moving era, the younger generation stands at the helm of future progress. They hold immense potential — the architects of innovation, empathy, and global change. They are energetic, ambitious, smart — and yet, many of them are restless. They know they want happiness, but they don’t really know what happiness actually means.

Surrounded by digital networks and ever-expanding influences, we all — including Gen Z — are often left grappling with questions that previous generations could not have imagined: What truly makes us happy? Is happiness a destination, or is it something we already hold within ourselves?

Everywhere they look — on social media, in movies, in conversations — they see someone else’s version of happiness. Luxury travel. A dream job. A fit body. A perfect relationship. A million followers. The human mind naturally relates to stories, examples, and others’ experiences. It’s why an advice from a friend or an influencer resonates so deeply.

The trouble begins when the mind mistakes another’s happiness for its own goal; it chases what looks good, not what feels good. This chase leads to complication, dissatisfaction, and the impression that happiness is always just out of reach. Naturally, the mind starts believing: “Maybe that’s what happiness is. Maybe I need that too.” And that’s where the real problem begins — not in the wanting, but in the comparing.

Learning Happiness Is Like Learning a Programming Language

Let’s look at this differently.

Imagine you’re trying to learn the programming language C. If you search online, you’ll find endless tutorials, videos, books, blogs, notes — so much material that a beginner wouldn’t even know where to start. They may spend months collecting information, and yet feel like they haven’t learned anything.

But the original C language textbook written by its creators? Just about 120 pages. Simple. Clear. Straight from the source.

So what happened between that original simplicity and today’s complexity?

Nothing changed in the language. Only the noise around it increased.

This is exactly what has happened with happiness. It is often buried beneath piles of opinions and experiences — but at its source, happiness is profoundly simple.

The Global Society Expanded — And So Did Our Confusion

Thanks to globalization, society is no longer limited to our neighborhood or city. We are now connected to everyone across the world. That’s beautiful — but also dangerous.

Because now, everybody is advertising their version of happiness, and without realizing it, our mind keeps absorbing those definitions and trying to chase them.

We are not chasing happiness — we are chasing someone else’s happiness.

And in the process, we drift far away from our own.

We Already Know Happiness — We Just Experience It Unconsciously

Happiness, in its original form, is simple. Every human being already knows it.

How?

Because we experience it every night in deep sleep. In that state, there are no desires, no comparisons, no achievements — and yet, we feel deeply rested and at peace.

That means we already know how to be happy. But we are experiencing it unconsciously. The real journey is to experience that same peace consciously — while awake.

So Where Do We Begin?

We don’t need to invent happiness. We don’t need to search outside.

We just need to return to the original source — ourselves.

This is what I am trying to explore through my journey of reading and understanding the Bhagavad Gita — not as a religious text, but as a manual for life, written long before smartphones and social media, yet more relevant today than ever.

My goal is simple: to present the essence of the Gita in the most practical and relatable way, especially for a generation that is constantly plugged in, constantly stimulated, and yet constantly unsettled.

Because happiness isn’t complicated. We just forgot how simple it truly is.

But If Happiness Is So Simple… Why Don’t We Experience It All the Time?

The answer lies in one powerful word:

Fear.

Fear of missing out.
Fear of failure.
Fear of rejection.
Fear of judgment.
Fear of not being “enough.”

It is not lack of knowledge that blocks our happiness — it is layers of fear.

What’s Next?

In the next article, we will explore:

👉 What are the core fears that control our life — often without us knowing?
👉 How does the mind create them?
👉 And how does the Bhagavad Gita guide us to dissolve these fears — not by escape, but through inner clarity and courage?

Because happiness is not achieved by adding more — it is revealed by removing what stands in its way.

In the technology world of established organizations1, careers often follow a predictable arc: Associate Engineer → Software Engineer → Senior Engineer → Team Lead → Manager. Each step rewards technical depth, efficiency, and visible impact. But the Manager role is not just another rung on the ladder—it’s a crucial juncture where career paths diverge.

At this stage, top performers usually face two choices:

1. The Creator Path – continuing as Principal Engineer → Chief Architect → Distinguished Engineer, driving innovation by building systems, frameworks, and technical breakthroughs.

2. The Enabler Path – moving into Engineering Manager → Director → VP of Engineering → CXO (CTO2, CIO, or even CEO), where the focus shifts from creating technology to enabling its adoption, scaling, and business impact.

Both paths are valuable. But they demand different toolkits — and both, in their own way, define what it means to grow as a leader of technology.

The Enabler’s Mandate

Tech creators focus on building—designing the architecture, crafting the system, ensuring its technical excellence. Tech enablers, on the other hand, focus on amplifying—ensuring innovations move beyond proof-of-concept brilliance into organizational and customer success.

Enablers:

• Build alignment between creators and business goals.

• Advocate for adoption within teams and across the company.

• Enable scaling by mapping solutions to customer needs.

In many ways, they form the bridge between creators and executive leadership. Without enablers, even the best innovations risk staying underutilized.

What Real Companies Practice

This split between “creator” and “enabler” isn’t theoretical—many global tech companies explicitly design dual career ladders to reflect it.

We can also see this reflected in individual careers:

• Satya Nadella exemplifies the enabler track. His rise from engineer to CEO at Microsoft was marked not by becoming the company’s top technical architect, but by championing cloud adoption and organizational transformation—scaling innovation rather than coding it himself.

• Jeff Dean, in contrast, embodies the creator path. As Chief Scientist of Google DeepMind and Google Research, he continues to shape the future of distributed systems and artificial intelligence. His influence comes not from managing organizations, but from advancing the boundaries of computer science itself.

Across these companies and leaders, the lesson is clear: innovation requires both the brilliance of creators and the leverage of enablers.

The Middle Management Confusion

This juncture—especially in middle management—is where confusion often arises. When a brilliant technologist moves into a managerial role, the ecosystem around them may continue to expect groundbreaking technical contributions. But their success now depends on enabling others, not just innovating themselves.

This shift can cause friction:

• For the individual: wrestling with the shift from being “the one who does” to being “the one who enables others to do”.

• For the organization: undervaluing the enabler role because it’s less visible than pure technical innovation (initially).

Clarity is critical. Both creators and enablers are essential, but their contributions look different.

The Changing Ratio: Tech Skills vs. Soft Skills

For aspiring enablers, the equation of required skills evolve. Early on, success is defined almost entirely by technical excellence. But as one moves toward leadership, the ratio changes:

• Soft skills—influence, communication, stakeholder management—become as important as technical depth.

• Exposure—to adjacent product stacks, cross-functional domains, and external customer needs—reshapes perspective.

The leader’s role is no longer just about what we can build, but how enabling others / team will result in products that are adopted, scaled, and sustained.

Toolkit Differences: Creator vs. Enabler

Closing Thought

As organizations grow, both creators and enablers are vital. The former bring breakthroughs; the latter ensure those breakthroughs see the light of day at scale. Recognizing, valuing, and clarifying these roles—especially in middle management—can unlock enormous potential for both individuals and organizations.

The real question for every technologist reaching this career juncture is:
Do you want to be remembered for what you built, or for what you enabled others to achieve?

Related Reading

In an earlier article, From Borrowed Identity to Authentic Contribution, I explored how originality forms the foundation of leadership style. Together with this piece on the Creator vs. Enabler paths, it builds a broader perspective on what it means to grow as a leader of technology.

Successful people naturally influence us — their way of speaking, working, or leading feels like a proven path. It’s only natural to learn from them and apply their approaches. Borrowing knowledge and behaviours is how growth begins.

But sometimes, what energises them doesn’t energise us. We push forward, trying to sustain their style, only to feel drained or out of place. That’s not failure. It’s an invitation to look inward — to notice how we see, think, and contribute differently. The leaders we admire give us starting points; what we do with them defines us.

The journey isn’t about rejecting what we’ve borrowed but transforming it into an authentic contribution.

Embracing Your Natural Instincts

Each of us carries natural instincts — internal lenses that shape how we interpret the world. They’re not something we add later; they’re always present. They are your unique filters through which knowledge flows and settles, shaping how you see and perceive the world around you.

Newton wasn’t the first person to watch an apple fall from a tree. But Newton’s — a mind primed by mathematics and curiosity — led him to see not just an apple, but a principle of gravity. The event was the same; the interpretation was unique.

In the workplace, the same is true. Two people can attend the same meeting — one sees obstacles, another sees opportunities. Both are valid, but it’s the diversity of interpretation that fuels innovation. That’s originality: trusting the instincts that guide your view of the world.

The Role of Borrowed Knowledge

Borrowing isn’t a trap; it’s essential. Every skill begins with something handed to us.

Think of cooking. At first, you follow recipes exactly as written. Over time, you start adjusting spices, swapping ingredients, and creating dishes that reflect your own taste. The recipe was borrowed, but the dish became yours.

Leadership works the same way. A young leader may begin by applying what they learned from the style of a respected manager or mentor. Those lessons provide a foundation. But lasting impact comes when they adapt those lessons, aligning them with their own instincts and strengths.

Borrowing gives us the building blocks; owning them is what turns knowledge into contribution.

Practical Steps to Move Toward Authentic Contribution

1. Notice Patterns
Ask: “Am I doing this because it fits me, or because it worked for someone else?”

2. Trust What Resonates
Frameworks like DISC and MBTI can give clues, but your lived experiences show you where you thrive. Pay attention to moments when you feel energised and effective versus drained and disengaged.

3. Start Small
You don’t need a dramatic change. Authenticity shows in daily actions — how you share ideas, solve problems, or support colleagues. Volunteer for a project aligned with your strengths. Speak up with a perspective only you can offer, even if it feels unconventional.

Closing Thought

Workplaces don’t need more replicas of past successes, but originals who contribute in their own way. Borrowed knowledge may start your journey, but originality is what defines it — and what leaves a legacy that lasts.

The real question is: are you here just to follow the blueprint, or are you ready to become the architect of your team’s success?

The moment you stop trying to be a better version of someone else is the moment you become a more powerful version of yourself. Tomorrow, notice just one place where you’re leaning on someone else’s style — and try showing up in a way that feels true to you.

And if it feels difficult to spot this on your own, that’s natural too. Sometimes a conversation with a trusted mentor can help hold up the mirror, so you see more clearly what already makes you unique.

Your most significant contribution isn’t a copy — it’s an original.

At Prabodh, we believe originality thrives when ideas meet expertise. Every learner, mentor, and leader carries their own lens — and when those unique perspectives are nurtured with the right guidance, they create impact far beyond imitation. That’s the space we strive to build: a place where knowledge transforms into authentic contribution.

In today’s fast-moving tech landscape, tools, languages, and methodologies change at a pace that textbooks can’t match. While engineering classrooms build a solid foundation, many students step into the industry without having navigated the kinds of open-ended, collaborative challenges they’ll face in real life.

This is where your experience and insight can make all the difference.

Why Now? Because Early Exposure Changes Everything

When industry professionals like you engage with students before they graduate, you help them connect theory with practice. You introduce them to the nuances of problem-solving in real-world contexts—where decisions have trade-offs, deadlines are real, and teamwork is non-negotiable.

By enabling this ed-tech connect early in their journey, you give both sides an advantage:

• Students gain a realistic understanding of industry expectations.

• You get to spot potential early—identifying those who can excel, adapt, and lead in the future.

Your Time Multiplies Your Impact

It’s not just about teaching concepts. It’s about modelling how to think, adapt, and communicate under real constraints.
When you guide a team through uncertainty, share your own failures and successes, or challenge them to approach a problem differently—you’re doing more than helping them learn. You’re building their mindset for innovation.

And let’s be honest—many of us wish we had someone who could have shown us this side of engineering much earlier.

The Win-Win: Building Your Personal Brand

Today, thought leadership is no longer limited to conference talks and LinkedIn articles. The next generation of engineers will remember the mentors who shaped their thinking and opened doors for them.
By sharing your knowledge in Prabodh Technologies’ mentor-led workshops, you:

• Position yourself as a leader in your domain.

• Grow your visibility in both academic and professional circles.

• Build a network of future collaborators who value your guidance.

Why Prabodh Technologies?

Our workshops aren’t just guest lectures—they’re immersive, mentor-led learning experiences that blend:

• Concept Introduction – You introduce key topics and tools.

• Industry Relevance – You connect these ideas to real-world challenges.

• Collaborative Application – Students apply what they’ve learned in smaller groups, with your guidance.

• AI-Enabled Follow-Up – For 3 days after the workshop, participants have access to AI-powered Q&A, with you personally addressing the most challenging queries.

This model keeps you connected to learners, even beyond the workshop, without overburdening your schedule.

A Chance to Leave a Legacy

Every time you mentor, you’re not just investing in students—you’re investing in the future of your industry. You’re helping shape engineers who are not just employable, but impactful.

So, if you’ve ever wished you could give back, influence the next wave of talent, and strengthen your own professional brand at the same time—this is your opportunity.

💡 Join us at Prabodh Technologies.
Let’s build the bridge between academia and industry—together.

In most engineering classrooms, you know the drill—lectures, assignments, and problems with clear answers. Follow the method, get the grade.

But when you step into your first job, the script flips. No one gives you an answer key. You’ll face challenges that don’t come with instructions—unique to your project, your team, and your company. And the real test isn’t just what you know—it’s whether you can figure out what you don’t know.

Take learning a new programming language. The common route? Join a coaching class, follow structured lessons, solve fixed examples. That builds a base, but it doesn’t train you to navigate the messy, unpredictable problems you’ll face in industry.

At Prabodh Technologies, we believe in learning through doing—without someone spoon-feeding every step.

Our workshops are mentor-led. Experts introduce key concepts, explain their real-world and industry relevance, and then guide participants into smaller groups. In these groups, you’ll apply the concepts immediately—experimenting, testing, and building solutions together. You’ll not only see how the knowledge works in practice, but also experience the collaboration, negotiation, and adaptability that real projects demand.

And here’s the reality—technical skill alone isn’t enough. You need to be able to communicate your thinking, persuade others, and speak up when something’s off. These soft skills are just as essential for solving the unknown as the technical ones.

We’re creating an inclusive platform where you can practice exactly this—figuring things out yourself, in a team, with the guidance of industry mentors. It’s the kind of preparation that makes the unknown far less intimidating when it shows up in your career.

If you want to be ready to navigate challenges that don’t come with a manual, start now: explore, experiment, and work things out for yourself. Build the skill to learn anything—because in the real world, that’s your biggest advantage.

💡 If this resonates with you, drop a like and share your thoughts—we’re building this for you, and with you.