We all probably would prefer to feel the ‘positive’ emotions of joy, excitement and peace, but what if a better meaning for happiness could be to allow all our emotions including sadness, rage, anger, fear and envy? Because surely when we are able to not only accept these feelings, but also to look forward to the changing tide of our emotions, isn’t this real happiness? To not fixate on one thing or another to bring about a certain result?
I readily admit that a part of me of course would prefer to feel joy, excitement and peace instead of sadness, rage, anger, fear and envy, but I now recognise that when joy comes it will go, when excitement comes it will go, when sadness comes it will go and so on.
True happiness cannot be found in things that change and pass away. Pleasure and pain alternate inexorably. Happiness comes from the Self and can be found in the Self only. Find your real Self and all else will come with it. – Nisargadatta Maharaj
Happiness Comes From Within
Happiness is a direct experience arising from your innate nature. ~ Jac O’ Keefe
Happiness cannot be found in other people, it cannot be found in a new car, a new house, a new romance or even more money. We think that happiness comes from these things, but it doesn’t. However, people and outside ‘stuff’ can trigger a desire to know ourselves, to delve deep inside to see who we really are, and then the outer can enhance the inner and vice versa.
For example, you could be in a new relationship and pin all your hopes and dreams on this man or woman, you may get lost in that person and lose who you are, but to your unique knowing, your inner wisdom, this would be a relationship that is not serving to bring you home to yourself.
However, if you are with someone and they become the icing on the cake in your vast life, not the whole cake or the whole enchilada, they become someone who enhances you and encourages you home to yourself – where true happiness lies.
If they were to leave you, yes you may feel heart break, but you would not die or drown, instead you would open up your heart to you and tenderly comfort yourself as you let go of what was.
The more time we spend getting to know who we are, the more we experience the entire world as part of us, bringing such a genuine feeling of happiness to see the tree, the bird, the lover, the sky as one with who we are, then separation is removed and all that is left is pure essence.
All external circumstances, activities, possessions and events are designed to keep the mind entertained. But happiness is outside the realm of the mind. ~ Jac O’ Keefe
This is where the problem lies. We think this moment is not enough. There is also a billion dollar self-help industry that prescribes goal setting, to the law of attraction (creating a reality other than ‘what is’ right now and a way of thinking that encourages primarily positive thinking).
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Kelly Martin, author of ‘When Everyone Shines But You’ is a dedicated writer and blogger who fearlessly explores life’s deepest questions. Faced with a decade of profound anxiety and grief following the loss of her father and her best friend Michael, Kelly embarked on a transformative journey guided by mindfulness, and she hasn’t looked back since. Through her insightful writing, engaging podcasts, and inspiring You Tube channel Kelly empowers others to unearth the hidden treasures within their pain, embracing the profound truth that they are ‘enough’ exactly as they are.
