Happiness
Happiness can be elusive and an illusion and natural and, at times can feel unobtainable. What is it? A mental state. Gawd that feels awfully plain compared to some of the synonyms we hear, like euphoria, grace, joyous and many more. It is a state of well-being and gladness and contentment. Yet it seems hard to attain sometimes. If it all arises from my state of mind why not just keep it coming?
Upon reflection I am thinking that happiness ‘comes’ when I get other stuff out of the way. This is counter to the idea of ‘the pursuit of happiness’, which suggests that happiness is somehow ‘over there’, not here. Well, to believe that would be a bummer as it would mean that I need to go to a particular place or do a particular thing or, heaven forbid, to have a certain person be a certain way. Sheesh. Hard
I can have a happy place to go to, a place that brings happiness thoughts, memories and future dreams are also allowed. This place, is mostly in my imagination though it may be welcomed into my present mind because of a reminder of some kind. So that means I can be in the grocery store line up or the dentist chair and still be in a happy place. And… how is it that I can be way less than happy even in Disneyland?
Happiness seems to, most of the time, come in a nest. The nest includes things like feeling safe, nourished (on many levels) and a kind of deep knowing. When I ‘know’ that I am safe etc, I can allow my guard to come down and let happiness come in. Some people seem to actually become uncomfortable with the atmosphere of happiness around them and will act out, fabricate some kind of terrible and then wail. Sad
Happiness, though always available is sometimes not chosen. Victor Frankl, somehow survived the nazi concentration camps by reminding himself that he, and he alone, could chose his thoughts. He remained sane and even acted kindly toward his captors and torturers, for years. His story emphatically underlines the power we have over our thoughts. I chose happiness as best I can. What about you?