LATELY
I'VE BEEN HUNTING FOR HAPPINESS. What do I mean? I mean I've
been looking around for signs of happiness and joy. As I walk down the
street, how many happy people do I see? In most cities people are arguing,
are preoccupied with worry, or they are rushing about because they are
late for something. Where I live, in Santa Fe, New Mexico I see lots
of happy people. Why are they so happy?
I decided
to check out the television. Fear Factor showed people terrified
at the ridiculous things they were being asked to do. I hope they are
paid well. The news - well that was grim. No uplifting stories there.
Then I found a show where they demolished a person's house and then
rebuilt it completely new. Wow, those people were really happy. They
were jumping up and down, praising God, and kissing people. Why were
they so happy?
I went to a park. Guess what I found? People were smiling and laughing.
Children were playing. Someone was walking a puppy. Many people stopped
to pet the dog and smiled. The dog would wag its tale and try to jump
up and lick the person. This caused laughter in both the dog owner and
the person being licked. Why were those people so happy?
Why
Do Certain Environments Create Greater Levels of Happiness?
Why are people in Santa Fe happier than those in many other locations?
Because most of the people walking around Santa Fe are on vacation.
It is one of the most popular spots in the world for travel. It is currently
ranked THE number 10 Best City in the World by Travel and Leisure,
number 5 on the 2003 Favorite Destinations list by Conde
Nast Traveler, and number 1 Most Healthy City by Organic
Style Magazine. The people visiting aren't “doing” their normal
life. They have taken time out to enjoy walking, shopping, visiting
museums, and learning about different cultures. They are savoring the
beauty of the southwest and the adobe architecture. They have treated
themselves to fabulous meals, fine hotels, and spas. And they are smiling
because of it. They have gotten out of their normal routine and allowed
their mind to focus on something new. So stop your normal routine, shift
your focus, and experience something completely new.
The people on the TV program that are getting a new house are thrilled.
Nothing is the same. There is a freshness and beauty that wasn't there
before. And a dream that they never thought possible has come true beyond
their greatest expectations. They have experienced a dramatic change.
And they are in gratitude. What can you express gratitude for?
The reason it’s easy to find happiness in the park is simple. The park
allows you to connect with nature. The park has trees and grass and
flowers. There are birds singing. When you walk in the park or sit on
the ground you have connected with the earth and the natural rhythms
of nature and with God. It is one of the most nurturing things you can
do for yourself. You become still within. You feel rejuvenated. If you
sit there long enough you will stop thinking about your worries and
begin to notice the beauty and the sounds. You will be fully present
in the now. It is so refreshing, soothing, healing and nurturing. Spend
some time in nature every day.
 Where
Does True Happiness Lie?
The situations previously mentioned are all external environments that
assist you in experiencing more joy. But those are all fleeting and
temporary. Real joy must come from within - regardless of circumstances.
What Prevents You from Being Happy?
What prevents you from experiencing joy and gratitude in every moment?
There are many issues, but here are two big ones that negatively affect
many people’s lives. The first is physical pain. The second is their
financial picture.
Imagine for a moment how different your life would be if you had no
pain and no financial worries. When you are in physical pain, nothing
else can get your attention. Your body is screaming and you have to
listen. And you will spend all of your time and money trying to make
the pain go away. Then there is money. Whether you are trying to live
on a budget of a few dollars a month, or a few million dollars a month,
huge amounts of time and energy are spent focusing on and worrying about
money.
As with
all issues, there is an underlying cause for these two as well.
The underlying cause of any issue is ALWAYS an illusion - a fear, a
belief, a judgment, an expectation that is false. It is NOT the truth
about God, about you, about how life has to be. It is something that
has became part of you and your belief systems that is in direct opposition
to Divine Truth. And those blocks, issues, energies, resistances to
the Universal Flow - by whatever name you choose to call them - are
the reasons you are experiencing pain, have to worry about finances,
don't experience joy in every moment, and can't manifest every desire
you have.
What
is the Single Most Important Thing You Can Do to Regain Your Happiness?
Learn
to ask the right questions. If you ask the right questions, you can
discover what your true issues are.
One of
the best questions to start with is  “why?”
Why do I have this pain in my body? Where did it come from? Why do I
get upset every month when I have to pay the bills? What am I afraid
of? Where does that fear come from? Why haven't I been able to manifest
____ (you fill in the blank)?
Listen for the answers. Write in your journal or sit out in nature and
ask questions and observe the answers. After asking a question and getting
an answer, ask why again. And continue asking why until you know you
have reached the root cause.
Every
time you notice that you are not feeling joyful or happy, ask yourself
why. What were you thinking, or doing, or saying that took you out of
joy? Become the greatest detective that ever lived, looking for clues
about what is really happing in your subconscious mind - the 95% of
your brain that causes you to act and react without logical explanation.
The 95% that's really running the show that you probably aren't even
aware of.
And once the reason has been revealed, then use the techniques you know
to permanently heal the issue and the root cause of it.
©
2005, Spirit of Nature, Takara, All Rights Reserved
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