Genuine happiness comes from within?
Everyone wants to live in genuine happiness and bliss. Yet, life isn't always the sweetest candy, nor is it lit and shines every day.
Throughout the years, when I felt like the world was just too heavy to carry on my shoulders, I looked around and found people who continued to live peaceful and wonderful lives. And then thoughts popped into my mind like bubbles from nowhere.
"How did their life become so in peace and happiness?"
"How come they still can manage to laugh and play around despite a busy, stressful life?"
Then, I paused and observed for a while. I figured out that maybe they approach life from a place of "self."
Okay, but how does one live in genuine happiness?
Step 1 is to love yourself.
My spiritual guide once told me that loving means accepting.
To love oneself means to accept that you are not a perfect being. Behind the imperfections must lie a great ounce of courage to be able to discover ways to improve your version of reality you live in, surrender to what life is putting on your path, and learn how to respond instead of reacting.
Genuine happiness also pertains to contentment. When you are contented with what you do, how you look, with your family, your friends, the place you live in, your car, and all the things you have, you know the answer to the question of how to be genuinely happy.
When we discover a tiny spark somewhere from within, that small spark will eventually lead to another one and another one. Yet, if you keep questioning life as it has never done you any good, you will never be able to experience genuine happiness.
Fight or surrender?
In life, there are lows and highs, yet we have the choice to let go of what doesn't serve us and let in what is. The only barrier is our thoughts setting limitations of what's possible.
And yeah, there are things like other people and circumstances we cannot control, yet we do everything in our "power "to think we can. That leads to so much pain and suffering.
So many things are outside our control that have, are, and will inevitably happen. And there is nothing we can do about that. What we can do is learn to respond instead of reacting.
It is hard to surrender to life and let it happen through you without expectations. We are indoctrinated with the illusion that we have control over life. Yet, we are borrowing life from death, and we can only choose how we will let it happen through us.
The more you resist, the deeper the struggle.
Genuine happiness and being in the present moment
We are constantly bombarded with outside stimuli, and many of us are wrapped up in worries about the future – that hasn't happened yet – or regrets about the past – that has already happened and is over. So, it is tough to find time to BE and appreciate the present moment simply.
That's all we have – the only moment we truly have control over is right now. And appreciate what is brought to us right now.
Many people will probably judge me on that, but bad things are part of life, as good things are, too. Without the bad, we won't appreciate the good. But to focus on blaming or complaining about the whole bad thing and the suffering isn't the way to get out of the misery.
Why not disconnect from the happenings, observe what's causing the actual pain, and openly look for signs that life is offering you to heal and return back to harmony and joy?
We are so focused on what we think about the happening and what it could mean that we actually miss life. It may sound harsh to bring it to you, but life will continue happening with or without you interfering. So, why not let life happen THROUGH you and let go of your expectations?
To achieve and live from that level is difficult and requires practice and a lot of surrender. Yet when you approach life with curiosity, which I call Explore the Experiment with Excitement, you can feel more in harmony and inner peace than ever before.
So, how do we feel happy despite all that life takes us through?
Every time you exert effort to improve the quality of your life and being – whether it is cleaning up your room, helping a friend, taking care of your sick dog, failing on board exams, and trying again – life gives you equivalent points for that.
Imagine life as a big scoreboard like those used in the NFL. Every time you take a step forward, you score points. Wouldn't it be nice to look at that board at the end of each game and think – "Whew! I got the point today. I'm glad I gave it a shot." – instead of looking at it all blank and murmuring, "Geez, I didn't even hit a score today. I wish I'd tried it out at least." We could have won and then walked away.
Genuine happiness isn't about driving the shiniest car, getting the Entrepreneur of the Year award, earning the biggest money, or other things or circumstances.
Sometimes, the most sought-after prizes in life don't always go to the fastest, the strongest, the bravest, or not even the best.
So, how do you become genuinely happy?
As you may know, everyone has their definition of happiness and a version of success.
Happiness for a writer may mean launching as many best-selling books as possible.
For a 10 year, child happiness may mean getting a new Lego pack for Christmas.
And for a coach, it may mean successfully transforming 10 people's lives in a year.
However, any of these are still influenced by outside stuff or circumstances we actually have no real control over.
So, really now, how do we experience happiness and joy?
Simple. You don't have to have the best things in this world. It's about feeling and being in alignment and peace from within. Although all the things from above may add to the happiness we experience.
For example, when you find yourself smiling at your mistake and telling yourself: "Oh, okay, great lesson. I know more for the next time; you carry a flame of strong willpower to focus on responding to life instead of reacting. You possess a willingness to stand up again and continue forward.
When you learn to accept yourself without judgment but with love and compassion, you pass step 1 in the project on how to experience genuine happiness. You will also be accepted if you know how to get one without judgment. For as long as you love and know how to love, you will receive love tenfold back.
Again, when me that same question on how to experience genuine happiness?
I'll tell you that external circumstances or people won't bring you harmony, happiness, and joy. Even if those things add to the bundle, genuine happiness comes from within. You choose to experience happiness, and you become free.
If you're ready to make some big changes in your life, it's time to step out of your way.
Are you looking to boost your long-term happiness and inner alignment to manifest your reality of extraordinary life?
Join me in the Soul-Aligned workshop experience.
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At the end of this experience, you'll have powerful transformational tools and practices of mindful (self) coaching to help you make small yet noticeable shifts every day to live a more aligned life with more flow, ease, and joy.
