Happiness is…….
We live in cycles, mood cycles.
When things go right for us, we’re pumped. We go shopping, buy new shoes, a new car, find a new job, and even jump into a new relationship. We think to ourselves, “Now, I’m happy!”. Then on the other side of this, when things are not-so-good, what do we feel? We invent statements like, “I’m Feeling down” and “I’ve lost something”. Perhaps there’s been an argument or disagreement or maybe even poverty. Moreover, by not being able to buy that pair of shoes or afford that special night out, you think, “How can I be happy when all this is going on!”.
Eastern philosophy (Buddhism, Hinduism) suggests both these states (happiness and unhappiness) are dysfunctional because, being in this space, you’re allowing yourself joy or pleasure; you’re in a state of greed or fear.
Consider this……
The Eastern philosophy says that when you think you’re happy or sad, you’re neither because, deep down, you’re experiencing either fear or greed. I’ve always chuckled at this because that means it’s just as dysfunctional to be ‘over-the-top’ happy as it is to be sad. Of course, this is an irony because we’re all trying so hard to be happy all the time.
Here’s the rub.
Did you know that a beggar on the street corner in Calcutta could be happier than you and that you’re likely to be more comfortable than the billionaire with his private jet, all those properties around the world in exotic places and his vast income? It’s true because…….
Happiness is not external; it’s internal. It’s how you feel about yourself and the world around you.
What to do about happiness
I sit and meditate, usually once a day and sometimes twice. I call it my ‘No Mind’ time because in my ‘me’ time, I feel the bliss of nothingness or, as some call it, mindfulness. ‘No Mind’ is my term for being completely at ease with me and the universe. It’s when nothing fazes me because I’m stabilised, balanced and happy. I’m not very happy; I’m in a state of just mild happiness. When I practice consistently, my joy stays with me for days because I think my meditation ‘tops’ me up each day.
Noticing Things
When I’m happy, I notice the simple, beautiful things around me. Stuff like that sunset last night and this morning’s sunrise and the guys chatting at the coffee shop this morning; then there’s my partner’s voice and being close to her as we had coffee. After that, there was my breakfast and the sound of my water feature with the city’s ambient sound, including the garbage truck.
Wasn’t that a strange description of happiness? Especially when there was no mention of purchases, buying, disagreements, or feeling low or high. For me, it’s all just a feeling of inner being, mindfulness and happiness.
That’s me noticing my happiness.
Check out one of our FREE 21-Day Video Tarot courses here
