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Happiness Is An Inside Job the effort. The happiness, which we get, is often a

We all know the feeling of happiness. What we don't diluted form of true happiness.
often realize is that whatever happiness we are This leads to dissatisfaction, and by the law of
feeling, is an emotion that is arising from within us. attraction, this brings more people or events which
The source of happiness, the pot which contains trigger dissatisfaction, taking us further away
happiness and keeps overflowing into our body and from where we started—to find happiness. Thus,
mind, is not outside of us, but deep within us. What happiness when sought after outside often comes
we are trying to learn and understand constantly, is at a high cost. Happiness, when sought after inside
how we can access that pot of happiness, and make us, or from non-material things, is cheap, easy to get,
it overflow. and satisfying to the core. Next time you are chasing
Happiness can arise from almost everything or happiness, become aware, see clearly, and then
anything. It can arise from seeing a beautiful sunrise decide if you can change the direction of seeking,
or sunset. It can arise from seeing a child smile, from from outside to inside.
hearing or singing a favourite song, from hearing Sonal Malhotra, Teacher-English
children squeal in delight, by helping someone who
is struggling with something, by achieving a goal, by
passing an examination or securing a job, by buying
or owning something that we always dreamed of
having, it can arise when someone recovers from a
financial, physical or mental problem, when we win a
prize or lottery the list is practically endless. In reality,
there are a million things, people or occurrences
which can trigger that pot of happiness inside us,
and make it burst and overflow.
When we are operating from lesser awareness or
consciousness, we are often blind to many facts,
one of them being that happiness resides inside
us. We invariably feel that happiness is possible The Value Of Inclusive Education
only when something in the external world changes
to our benefit or comfort. While it is true that a Every child is unique in his or her own way, but the question
favourable turn of events in the outer world does arises, ‘Do we treat them treated equally?’ Children come
bring immense happiness, the outer world has its from diverse backgrounds and they may differ from one
own movement and rhythm, which are beyond our another in their physical, mental and learning abilities
control. It often takes us many decades of good and but they enjoy all the privileges together. They remain
bad experiences, wisdom and maturity to realise this in the same classroom; participate in all the learning
fact. Since we feel that happiness can only come to activities as other children do.
us from the outside, we spend most of our lives trying Inclusive Education is about providing a healthy
to manipulate the outer reality. Unlike internal cost environment to children with disabilities such as
of happiness, which is very low, smile at someone, physical, visual, hearing or learning disabilities to cope
to watch a sunset, to help someone in trouble, to up with the regular academics with the help of some
offer kind words, a piece of advice, to follow your curriculum adaptation. But when it comes to some
passion, give someone attention, praise, or our time, section of Autism where the intellectual level is high or
is a low cost investment in happiness. To connect to when there is sensory processing delay/difficulty, even
oneself, to meditate, to exercise, to eat healthy, to though the child may be learning, there certainly would
pray—all these bring happiness without much cost. be difficulties in classroom behaviour and the speed of
But when we want more possessions or favourable learning. The difference can be bridged through support
circumstances to bring happiness, the cost of system provided by a resource team within the school.
happiness—in terms of effort, time, money,stress— Moreover some modifications, in the evaluation system
all go up tremendously. might help many children who fall under this category.
If I am programmed in such a way that I will feel On the other hand, normal children learn to respect
happy only when I own a big house, a luxury car or their own individuality and also that of others. Students
when I take frequent international vacations, or enhance their emotional quotient as they develop
possess fine designer jewellery, I am going to have to patience, tolerance and compassion for their peers. They
work hard, earn lots of money, and pay a heavy price learn to accept the strengths and weaknesses of others.
for my happiness. And when I do achieve that object, The knowledge gained during the schooling years need
I am often not as happy as I thought I would be, not necessarily be measured in terms of academic
because I have already spent or invested heavily on progress. Children with special needs learns a lot in terms
that project. I am left wondering whether the effort of social etiquettes, communication, life skill, emotional
and stress of earning and saving all that money, balance, leisure time engagements etc. An Inclusive
was actually worth the vacation or the car that I school provides opportunities for playing together,
now have. The mind is always in a calculative mode, learning together, being together and growing together
and often tells us that the cost-benefit ratio of our with diverse communities.
happiness was not worth it. We land up slogging and
saving, only to discover that maybe it was not worth Prabhamayee Una, Special Educator
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SACHDEVA GLOBAL SCHOOL | 2019-20