One thing we do know is that we all want to be happy- we all want the ‘happy ever after’ ending to our story. To acknowledge this is the first step, to explore what happiness is and means to you, think of the answers for the following questions:
Q: What is happiness?
Q: What makes you happy?
Q: How do you feel when you are happy?
Q: Where is happiness?
There is happiness in: being natural, our purest state of being, being a king of the self and being our very best (when all our thoughts and actions are an expression of our inner beauty and perfection).
Once upon a time… as a carefree child I was completely happy; a happy child at the beginning of time.
How did I lose that state of innocence? Attracted? Impressed? Wanting? I gradually moved out of / was drawn out of my own inner contentment ‘into’ needing or wanting what I was attracted by. I moved more and more away from / forgot my joy of being to become dependent on things outside of myself to ‘give me’ happiness. I unknowingly traded in constant happiness for one that was always in the future or that I had to do something for.
Returning? To enable us to break free from dependencies we need to fully understand and get to know the self once again. To learn and experience that I am not my thoughts; desires; mind; ego; body- that I am much more than this and have many wonderful spiritual qualities.
How?
1) Adopt an attitude of learning at every moment.
2) Learn to be completely in the moment. Living in the shadows of the past blocks out today’s sunlight.
3) Do things consciously and give it your best.
4) Completely accept yourself- whatever you think, feel and do. When we acknowledge and accept with love we can find solutions and move forward.
5) Take responsibility of yourself in all respects- for achieving goals; in relationships; for your own happiness.
6) Be true to yourself- don’t compare yourself with others; think less of yourself than you do others; try to please others.
7) Live purposefully- have a vision, e.g.- I am here to express and share happiness; to realize my full potential and to help others do the same.
8) Know what makes you unhappy / happy.
9) Appreciate everything – find the benefit in everything.
The Tool?
Reflect. Meditate. Go within and explore your inner world- the world of your thoughts and feelings. Are your thoughts supportive of happiness?
Our thoughts create our reality. Our subconscious is at the source of many of our thoughts/ behaviors. Also, our thoughts, especially when backed with feelings, influence our subconscious. So we need to be aware of our thoughts and by training ourselves to think, to talk to and treat ourselves positively we can change our experience.
Be active in knowing ‘you’- in knowing what you are living for; your values; what makes you happy; in giving happiness.
