Happiness almost seems to have its own agenda—one that clearly has nothing to do with our wants and desires.
Yet, we all have moments of happiness, whether great or
small. It seems often to sneak up on us. Or I suppose I should say it seems to
sneak up on me as I cannot really speak for anyone else about how and when they
feel happy. It seems to me that happiness is a sea that we float in but do not
seem to recognize.
Happiness is key in America, after all people feel that it
is guaranteed to us; however, as the commencement speaker at the recent
Wellesley Massachusetts High School graduation ceremony pointed out, the
Declaration of Independence says that we have the right to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. Not happiness itself, but the pursuit of it. But does
actively pursuing happiness make it more elusive?
So, what does come before happiness? Letting go of the need
to be happy? Learning to live our lives without fear and anxiety? They
certainly chase happiness away, although we can have moments of happiness in
the midst of trouble or grief. I can remember in the months after both my
parents’ deaths having moments of joy that was beyond happiness in the midst of
my double grief. My parents died seven and half days apart, and I suppose in
some way this stripped things down to the bare bones of emotion, possibly
opening a door for joy and happiness to leak through if I stopped trying to
fill myself up again.
What else comes before happiness? Recognizing that life has its up and downs? And recognizing that we only add to the pain by struggling rather than breathing deeply and calmly to find our way through the trouble? I suppose the trick is to stop struggling against an unwanted situation that you are in while at the same time working to change it.
Do we need to replace ill-will towards others with goodwill towards all, goodwill meaning that you wish everyone well so that all live with ease and have what they need? Do we need to let go of grasping and wishing that we were someone else or had someone else’s life? After all that cannot happen—we can only be ourselves living the life that we have right now, moving on the path that we are on. Do we need to let go of wishing we had more money, that we were thinner, healthier, smarter, or whatever quality it is we wish that we were?
My angels and guides tell me almost every day to go, do and be. I notice that they do not say go, do and be happy. They just say to be. Maybe that is part of the magic of becoming happy.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathryn Samuelson is an intuitive who channels messages from your angels and guides through spiritual or automatic writing. She is also a life coach certified by the University of New Hampshire through its Professional Development Department. Kathryn does workshops based on the set of meditation cards and book called Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be that she created with her friend, Linda Lewis. For more information: http://www.kathrynsamuelson.com/, klsamuelsonATyahoo.com, or 781-799-7332
Other Blog Posts by Kathryn Samuelson: Small Businesses as a Sign of Hope, When is Enough Enough?, Just Because We Can, Should We?, Choosing a Slower Path, My Journey with the Angels, Odds and Ends, Dissolving Limits, Brave Spending, Mindful Spending, Would You Have the Courage to Act?, Growth in the Winter, Book Review: Find Your Spirit Animals, As We Grow Through the Season, Simple Ways to Give, Turning Left Rather Than Right, Giving Thanks, Nurturing the Ego, Letting Things Go, Real Energy Book Review, Living with Doubt and Uncertainty, Bardo - The Things In Between, Musings On Mindfulness, You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps, The Choices We Make, Beyond: Buddhist and Christian Prayers CD Review, Riding Out Irene: A Practice in Maintaining Balance,
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