Happiness

by Linda Aragon

We all just want to be “Happy” – isn’t that the truth? Seems so simple, but what does that mean…how do you define “Happiness”?  Have you ever heard the expression – “I worked my entire life to climb the wall of success, only to find I was on the wrong wall” – definitely food for thought. So right now, I ask you – “Are you Happy?” Try this exercise:

     Sit quietly and focus on relaxing your body and mind.

• 1st Question – Ask yourself –  “Am I Happy?  Watch where your thoughts go ….  Watch your thoughts for just five minutes. What arises that gives you satisfaction, what brings you frustration?
• 2nd Question – “Do I believe I deserve to be Happy?”  Sit with this and see what arises.

So what defines Happiness…First let me tell you what it is not.  It is not an emotional high.  Nor does it result from material things, money, relationships, sex, and all the rest.  The Happiness I am talking about is more profound.  It is an inner balance and awareness of your own center of gravity. It is “Not” something that comes and goes.  It is a state of being in touch with yourself and whatever is going on around you. It is about knowing your own mind, your own heart in spite of the clamor going on around you.   If you try to make yourself Happy by the methods that culture suggests, you will doom yourself to dependence on circumstances you can never control.

Explained further – Real Happiness is independent of circumstances, does that surprise you?  It relies in your relationship to them.  Everyone gets plenty of pain – if you nurture it and hold on to it, it turns into suffering.  Are you ready to live without suffering?  Few are, most people hold their suffering close.  It is familiar, it is drama, and it is what everyone talks about.  It is what they use all their lives to distract themselves from facing who they really are.  If you let go of suffering, be prepared to find out things about yourself from which your suffering distracted you.  You will lose the intense, turbulent dramas you adore.  You will need to be ready to find another way to live.

So how does one find this true Happiness?  It begins when you begin to inquire into who you really are. Everything you meet in life opens you to aspects of your answer. Though inherently perfect, human beings also have details to work out; that is why I believe it is important to take up spiritual practice.  I firmly believe with all that we have on our plate and choices we always have in life, by far your wisest choice is to journey through spiritual questions such as “Who Am I?” – “Why am I here? What is my purpose?”- (When you are clear about why you’re here, you will have true passion, satisfaction and fulfillment). “What happens after I die (transition), what will matter?”   Begin to inquire to what a soul path is.  People often never awaken till they tire of their drama. If it excites you to hold on to it, if you feel  it benefits you to tell all that will listen “your story”, that is your choice.

Here’s the real clincher.  Happiness is your birthright.  It is a state of being, not doing.  It is also a decision you have to make!  Abraham Lincoln once said – “You are as Happy as you make up your mind to be”- Wise man!  So how do I make such a decision…Are you willing to let go of your familiar dramas?  An immediate shift can occur with an attitude of gratitude and appreciation…for all your blessings but also for your challenges, for it is through these that you are growing and evolving – so yes, a thank you for your challenges should be in order as well.  Living with the belief “Everything happens for a reason” will help you to step back out of the drama and see what lesson is being presented to you.  The sooner you can do this, the sooner the lesson will end.  How many times do you want to repeat it?  View all experiences as teachings, and trust.

You are alive, You are here now, You have another day, That is a blessing. Consider changing your expectations, better yet eliminate them.  Release blame, let go of judgments.
The only place to find peace is in the “Now”- How?  ***Acceptance – make peace with the present moment.  All pain that you feel is some form of non-acceptance. On the level of thought, it’s judgment, on the emotional level, its negativity.

How do you know when you’re there……Inner Peace

Linda Aragon, Holistic Life Coach
RadiantLifeTransformations.com
Aragon77@comcast.net

Next issue I will discuss Symptoms of Inner Peace…