How does one be-come happy, healthy and strong? The first step is to realize it is more important to just be rather then to become something. The simplicity often eludes us in a world where complication and details are the rule. If something is simple, we tend to dismiss it as obsolete or at best inconsequential. The old adage, the best things in life are free, it is the simple things in life that truly matter, and yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, all you have is today, are far more profound then most realize. After we attain what we believe will bring us happiness for example, money, prestige, outside power, we are unable to recognize\these adages are priceless. Once the truth emerges a life, altering discovery appears. Life altering consequences based on the belief of an illusion may take on many forms depending on the recipient. Norma Jean AKA Marilyn Monroe is a great example of seeking for fulfillment in outside sources. Marilyn discovered she had it all accept what she needed, inner peace. At this point, there is choice but this beautiful person was unable to see any choice and of course made the only one she could. Marilyn Monroe’s modern protégé Anna Nicole Smith followed the same path. This says available information has little influence in the matters of fulfillment and peace. I am not making money the culprit. In fact, money is a part of happiness and a certain degree of peace but by no means is it all of it or even most of it. Money is a small portion of a much larger picture. The key word here is peace. Peace is preferable of happiness. The reason is that it will prevail in happiness or unhappiness, sadness or joy, sickness and health. Peace comes from within and anything from within is infinite. The New Testament, ancient scrolls and countless other icons have proclaimed this fact repeatedly. Another great adage, Go within or go without. Happy is an emotion, it comes and goes. The term happiness is a mental state based on outside circumstances. I placed the word happy first for a reason. Let me explain. How many times have you said to yourself, I will be happy when I have more money, get a promotion, reach my goals, take a vacation, have a baby, the kids grow up, retire, etc.? Just fill in the blank. I spent years thinking similar thoughts. I lacked awareness of the very obstacle keeping me unhappy. In fact, this type of inner dialogue and thought process was only the beginning. I am frequently discovering other self-defeating thoughts. . The point is simple, so simple I missed it. There is another old saying, do not put the cart before the horse. That is exactly what I was doing. The reason I was absent awareness is that most everyone I know thinks similarly so we consider it “normal”. The challenge is this manner of thinking creates the opposing result we desire. So how do you turn it around? The question answers itself. Turn it around; decide to be happy, regardless of outside circumstances. Happiness is a state of mind, but one-step beyond happiness is what we truly want, INNER PEACE. Peace is a soul experience. If you have been around a while, you know circumstances often change in accordance to our perception; they are either going right or wrong, good or bad. In short, things often go wrong. The polarity of both is reality. Without one, how could we experience the other? Without hot we could not experience cold and without dark there could be no light. The key is the acceptance of both. After acceptance, we can decide if the circumstances need changing or even if it can be changed. Regardless of first step to inner peace is accepting “what is”. Simply because what is already is. This does not mean we cannot change the circumstance for situation is simply means we must accept it first. What we resist will persist. All decisions in which bring positive results for self and others are made after acceptance. A feeling of peace can be compared to a turbulent ocean. At the bottom of the ocean there is no turbulence only stillness. If you go deep enough within your own self all the turbulence transforms into peace and stillness. Outside circumstances, our inner dialogue, or thinking pattern is often permitted to alter our perception of life experiences. Life conditions are temporary and should not be mistaken for our life or self-identity. The mind is a tool we are given to use but many times our mind uses us. Practice being happy by living in the present moment. In the beginning some days will be better then others. The key is to continue practicing The truth is we invest time conditioning our body, learning skills for a job or hobby. We take little if any time conditioning our most powerful gift, our brain. Many of us are placing the horse in front of the cart. In summary peace is the horse, the reins are happiness, the cart is our health in which is affected by our thoughts. Here is my suggestion, stay in the moment and examine your inner dialog. It is Your thoughts and feelings in which you create your happiness leading to peace thus creating health. If your thoughts and feelings are always focused on waiting for something you will always be waiting. When you are focusing on life’s circumstances, which are consistently, changing there will always be inner turmoil. If your thoughts and feelings are focused on the now you will feel happy immediately. One last question to ask yourself, have you ever experienced anything outside of the present? Was the past not the present when you experienced it? When the future arrives, will it not also be the present? For the next 30 days just practice living in the now and see incredible results. Nevertheless, I urge you not to concentrate on the results but on the mean itself. Enjoy living in a moment, and peace health and happiness will be a byproduct. I highly recommend a book. The book is titled, Practicing the power of now, written by Eckert Tolle. I prefer the audio version as it seems more comprehensible. For your convenience, you can find it here. If you do decide to give it, a shot please write and let me know so you can assist in the next article. It is by far the best investment in myself I have ever made. I have attained countless rewards for the effort I expended. Living in the present moment is a reward in itself. Actually when practiced it will bring inner peace immediately. Peace in which surpasses all understanding. |