Activating Happiness #3
As it turns out, happiness is an inside job. It’s mostly in your head.
Distractions, frustrations, and adversarial posturing may sometimes dominate your thoughts. But, you are not doomed to these. If you find your world to be overly loud, seek the quiet of the present moment. In the present moment, you can find your breath, slow things down, and often find a surprising sense of deep joy and peace. This is a practice that takes work, but in the end, it can be done.
The divisions and animosity that are so prevalent easily lead us into an adversarial posture, always ready for a fight. If you are seeking peace and happiness, you will not find it on the news or in politics. These have their place and their usefulness, but they do not generate peace and happiness. What if you intentionally decided to see all people as human just like yourself? What if you determined just for one day to exercise a compassionate posture toward every single person you encounter, especially the ones who are not like you? Perhaps this is an experiment worth trying in your pursuit of happiness.
As Matthieu Ricard says, “Our inner freedom knows no limits, no matter our outer circumstances.” If you want to be happier, you really do have to decide to be happier and set out on that relentless pursuit. Ultimately, I fully agree with John Leland’s thesis learned from the 85+ crowd: happiness is a choice you make.
Worth Repeating
Our inner freedom knows no limits, no matter our circumstances.
-Mattheiu Ricard
Happiness is a Choice You Make
Chock full of engaging stories from the 85 and up crowd, often in less than ideal circumstances, John Leland delivers a genuinely inspiring guide to choosing happiness. Grab your copy by clicking here.
