When we pick up a newspaper or see the news on television, it seems as though the world is filled with doom and gloom and, even in our own hectic lives, it would be foolish to think that we could feel happy every moment of our waking lives. But is a state of being happy that far from being attained by us all? The answer is NO. It is within our own grasp.
We tend to forget how important happiness is and get consumed with our own negative feelings of doom and gloom from time to time too. Furthermore, we sometimes do not consciously realise we are doing this to ourselves.
Why Happiness Is Important
Although we may sometimes neglect to cultivate our own happiness, feeling happy is intrinsically important. If we are happy it has an added knock on effects and benefits. These include us becoming more compassionate and feeling healthier both physically and emotionally. We become more creative, witty, energetic and fun to be around and it can also lead us to become more financially successful.
Very few of us live our lives in complete isolation. We will have partners, families, friends and work colleagues with whom we interact on a daily basis so if we are happy, then it is likely to mean that they will feel happier too. Therefore, through our own happiness, we are actually giving something to other people too and enabling them to feel happy as well.
Now, if we open that up and take it to a global level, it can make a massive impact. For example, unhappiness is at the core of all the breeding grounds of war and terrorist activity. Countries only attack other countries if they are feeling unhappy about certain realities and we are all only too aware how terrorist ideals come about as a result of their real or perceived injustice and unhappiness about various religious, social, political or economic realities.
The fundamental reason why happiness is so important is that it is extremely vital to our own goals in life and can help us achieve many other cherished personal ambitions and goals. Also, by being happy, we have the potential to change many other lives just by being ourselves.
How often have you been in a place and there has been something about the mood or atmosphere that does not quite seem right? When happiness is on board, this not only affects you but it has positive effects on all those with whom you come into contact.
So, it is the ‘domino’ effect and it all begins with you as an individual. As you spread those feelings, they are taken on board by those around you who also spread them in turn. If you can imagine the impact this would create if the feeling was then perpetuated and multiplied by hundreds, then thousands and then millions of people? There would be no use for wars or terrorism in the world which is another example of why happiness is so important.
How Is Happiness Attained
For happiness to be attained, it is important to be open and willing to the concept that it can be attained. For us to do this, we need to rid ourselves of the negative energies which occur in our lives on a regular basis and which cause us to feel unhappy or at best, make us feel as though we are simply existing or drifting through life.
Remember, it is a natural state to feel happy. We are all programmed to feel happiness as the norm. It is what we let get in the way that alters our programming for the worst.
Therefore, by ridding ourselves of negative thoughts, self-doubts, rationalising problems and seeing them as challenges to be overcome, we get rid of feelings such as depression, fear, worry, dissatisfaction, boredom and grief and then, by ridding ourselves of these, all that is left is happiness, contentment and peace of mind.
Some will wonder how we can do this when so many negative things happen to us. In answer to that, it is because we LET these things cause us to have negative reactions. For example, we all have all gone to work, had a bad day and come away complaining to a colleague, “The boss really got my back up today”. However, he only did that because YOU let him have that effect on you.
In truth, no one can ever make someone feel anything. Outside behaviours and influences have the power to trigger off negative thoughts, but that can only happen if you allow it to. Change the way you respond to those triggers and consequently they can have no effect on inflicting any kind of misery upon you.
This might not come across as being an easy thing to do. But, if you consciously make the effort and tell yourself that you are going to be happy and that no one has the right to make you feel unhappy or can take those feelings away, then you are in sole control of your own feelings of happiness. It is a fact that by placing happiness at the cornerstone of your very existence, then you will be much more effective at creating the kind of world you want.
With thanks to Jeff Durham
