The search for happiness is said to be as old as mankind. As human beings, we tend to look outside for happiness, feeling that it must lie somewhere else since we are not experiencing it within ourselves.
But happiness is an innate quality of the soul and we should be experiencing it all the time. We lose our connection with this inner resource when we are focused on the external aspects of our life–our body, roles, responsibilities, possessions etc. The more we are caught up in these, the less happy we feel.
When our focus is external, we also tend to blame other people and situations for our unhappiness. We think that if the people or circumstances that make us unhappy go away, we will be happy.
We forget that whether to be happy or not is a matter of our choice. People or situations cannot alter the state of my mind unless I allow them to. If I decide to be happy come what may, I can be so all the time.
How we feel in any situation is decided not by the situation but by how we choose to respond to it. If things are going my way I will certainly have no reason to be cross. But if they are not, I need not get upset about it. I can see what I can do about it and get things done differently the next time. And even if there is nothing I can do about it, I can learn from the experience and move on. How does getting angry or disappointed help me? It only takes away my happiness and reduces my ability to deal with the situation. Happiness is my property, why should I allow any person or situation to rob me of it?
Bringing God into the picture makes it easier. If I am in a position of responsibility where I have to face many challenges, I can become tense or worried. But if I have a loving relationship with God, my Father, and trust that He is there to help me, I can pass on my burdens to Him and see how He makes things work out well. This does not mean disavowing responsibility, but letting your intellect to be guided by God’s wisdom to find the right solution to problems. When you do this, you feel like a carefree child who has a father to take care of all his worries. This is how small children naturally experience happiness.
And a happy state of mind will also attract good fortune. You will be content regardless of your circumstances, and contentment is not only a fortune but also a magnet for new opportunities.
Comments