“Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast.”
-Norman Vincent Peale
I want to ask two questions in the beginning.
“Are you having a good day?”
If you answer is “Yes.”
My second question is “Why you are having a good day?”
If it is “No.”
“Why you are having bad day?”
My last question to you, “Would you have a good day or bad day tomorrow?”
When you have a good day, you are happy. Is there any day on which you want to be unhappy?”
Your Why Is Important
We have to understand, ‘what is the reason you are having good day or what is the reason you are having bad day?’
Most of the time our mind is like a balloon in the wind and blown away here and there by external circumstances. When you are going your way you are happy but when there is diversion, you are not happy. Suppose you are in your office and you have been allotted a work which you does not like it but you have to finish it, you are displeased. But if you have a passion for some work and asked to carry out the work, you will be very happy.
Whenever you depend upon the external circumstances for happiness it is always disappointing affairs. It is not always possible to control people or the circumstances in our favour. Many a times it is not possible to change the situation or event but we can control or moderate our reaction to that situation or event. We have to implement two things,
1. Stop outsourcing happiness
Outsourcing happiness or unhappiness is undesirable if you want to be really happy. When you rely upon outside sources, you always require someone to have pleasant feelings. You have to stop blaming others for your unhappiness. If you blame others for your unhappiness means you make your state of mind unstable. Ultimately you give the power to someone else for your success, growth or peace of mind. Every adverse situation or event can be turned for your advantage. It is the state of the mind that decides your happiness.
2. Source Of Happiness Within
The true source of happiness which can never end is from within. I had read a story about the disciple of Budha. One of his disciples Punn Vatsyat completed his teaching from master and therefore Budha told him to select one of the villages to serve the people. He selected a village where people were known for very bad behaviours. Budha told not to go there as people may abuse. The disciple said, “Lord, let them abuse me, at least they will not bit me.”
Budha said, “Suppose they bit you?”
Disciple said, “Ok, but at least they will not kill me?”
Budha said, “Suppose they kill you?”
Punn said, “If they kill me, my all sins will vanish and I will think myself lucky that I am free from suffering.” Budha tried to test him all the ways, but external environment was no where responsible for the happiness of his disciple. So the happiness is all about state of mind regardless of people or circumstances. If the mind is unpleasant feelings or agitated, no external environment can make you happy. It depends upon how you respond to external circumstances that decides your happiness.
3. Meditation
During formal meditation you are trying to concentrate on a positive peaceful state of mind. You observe the breathing and when your mind starts wandering, again try to concentrate on breathing. During short meditation stretches and try to tap into our own potential for peaceful positive state of mind. You slowly become aware of your breath at the tip of your nose. In the process you are breathing out your agitations, any mental stresses or frustrations or kind of unhappiness in your life just like dark and smokes. While breathing in you can image inhaling clear bright light which is a very nature of peace. Imagine that this bright light fills your entire body and mind. Continue in this state for few minutes and simply enjoy. This inner peace is coming from within and fills your mind with happiness. Practice this simple meditation and just be determined on daily basis to bring this inner peace with you into rest of the day to benefit yourself and others.
Take Away
1. Happiness is subjective and it is matter of choice. Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness.
2. You can even enjoy ‘pains’ because sometimes, life is all about risks, priorities, and sacrifices.
