Illusion ( part 2) - Happiness (1)

 

Ever wondered what gives you happiness ?

Going on a holiday to a much talked about holiday destination.

Buying that brand of a bag.

Buying that exquisite piece of jewellery.

Buying a sports car or the latest bike.

Building a new house.

Getting the latest phone or laptop.

Or the latest fashion accessories.

Or it could be having your favourite dish.

The list goes on and on. It is a long list right, and one thing is certain the list is ever changing

Ever wondered if other than effectively managing this list could there may be another way to happiness.

If so worth examining a few things -

• Novelty or newness is directly proportional to happiness. New experiences make you more happy than repeat of the same or old experiences. As the novelty of an experience or object wears off so does your happiness related to it reduce.

• However not all novel experiences  or objects make you happy, it is only those that you desire or unexpectedly delight you in a pleasant way that make you happy.

 

• Happiness is not dependent on an object or an experience. If that was the case than buying the same phone or dress should make you equally happy every time.

 

• Happiness is felt within you and Leading from the above it at least appears to be triggered by your internal state of desires and hence is dependent on your internal state.

 

• Next time you are happy just observe and be aware what is making you happy. You will discover you become happy when your attention is focussed. It occurs when you are in a state of near thoughtlessness. No thoughts about past nor future, you are totally in the moment. When you get something you desire or experience nature or are on a holiday for the briefest of moments you become totally present that is what gives you happiness as opposed to what you did.

We are inherently happy, but the happiness is covered up by our ego, our desires our thoughts of past and future. In the instant your desire is fulfilled, for the briefest moment you experience happiness because the mind stops and becomes totally present. The fact is you don’t need to do anything to be happy.

Happiness cannot be found either in the future ( if I do this I will be happy) or the past (when I did this or that in the past I was happy). Happiness is always there when you are totally present.

So if you want to be happy let go of all the experiences, objects and the thoughts that are distracting you from the true happiness that you already are. All that is required is to wipe off the dust (past and future thoughts) from your mirror of self and your happy self will reflect back and shine through. Initially all that is required is one or two experiences of the blissful self and once you have a taste then you will vigorously wipe off the rest of the dust. Happy dusting off😀