#48 | How to be 10% happier
Hello friend -
Remember a moment when you were happy? Joyful?
In these moments, we feel good. We laugh, dance, hug, or simply observe, breathe, smile. We are spacious and generous.
Joy comes in many forms. It has many flavors. Sometimes it is radiating and bursting. Other times it is calm and glowing.
You know, in the beginning, when you start exploring the topic of mindfulness – it may seem that most of it are about suffering. We learn to relate to pain, feel the emotional turbulence, befriend our fears and anxieties.
And yet, I want to assure you that we also learn the art of being a little bit happier in mindfulness. You know, maybe just 10% happier.
It's not a secret anymore that happiness can be either caused by external factors or it can be experienced unconditionally for no specific reason.
Externally conditioned happiness is not worse. Some things just make us happy. A workout, a good dinner, a nice sleep, a new purchase. It's important to notice this and savor it.
As William Blake put it: "Kiss the joy as it flies by."
A good question to explore for yourself in the moment of sadness is, "what stands between me and happiness at this moment?"
You will notice two types of answers:
"If only…"
"Something is wrong..."
It is important to learn to see your 'if only' and 'something is wrong' mind, especially when it too often dictates your attitude and capacity to enjoy daily life. Some of us are too focused on things we don't have, aren't we?
Yet, awareness gives rise to choice.
Once we are aware of these inclinations of the mind – we can learn to shift our attention towards things we have.
"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose it and keep choosing it every day."
Next week I will write more about happiness that has not causes. It does not depend on things we have or don’t have. We all are familiar with it, but usually have less control over it.
Enjoy your day. Enjoy being.