Life is good - extract

"If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place"
Lao Tzu

If you’re like most of us, you’re seeking real happiness. We all have
moments of temporary happiness - like when something nice happens to
us, or we get that thing we’ve been wanting, or we succeed in a venture.
But what about real, lasting happiness that is not dependent on
external factors?

What IS real happiness, anyway?

Defining happiness is not easy. It’s personal, and if we’re asked, it’s hard
to express it. We can say, “I’m happy” or “I’m not happy” but how does one
measure or speak of happiness?

Psychologist Ed Diener, author of Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of
Psychological Wealth, describes “subjective well-being” (happiness) as
a combination of life satisfaction and on a day-to-day basis, having more
positive emotions than negative emotions.

Researcher Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness, defines
happiness in terms of its components:

* Pleasure: the good feelings
* Engagement: being engaged in life - having stability (usually referring

to financial), good friends, loving family, hobbies and interests
* Meaning: our sense of purpose, and using our talents and strengths to

fulfill our purpose

Happiness can be momentary or it can be long-term, as in “I’ve lived a
happy life.” It may surprise you - or not - that a happy life has nothing to
do with the terrible day you had yesterday or the fear you feel today. It’s
an overall baseline happiness. In general, if you’re a happy person, the
good outweighs the bad.

Happiness is not feeling great all the time. Feeling good is a byproduct of
engagement and meaning.

Happiness is not wealth or success. These can be temporary. It’s the rare
person whose lifestyle and stress level doesn’t rise along with their
income and success. The only exception to the “money doesn’t buy
happiness” rule is when you spend that money on experiences with other
people.

Happiness is not the absence of pain; although we often mask pain with
alcohol, sex, drugs, entertainment, escaping on exotic vacations and
extreme sports. But are we “happy” in the absence of pain? Not
necessarily. Sometimes, we’re not in pain but we’re bored, unfulfilled,
complacent… those aren’t happiness!

Happiness is not something to seek or strive for. It just IS. Or, isn’t.
Your choice.

“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.”
~ Lao Tzu

If you correct your mind, happiness will follow.

So how can you “correct your mind” so that happiness will follow?

Meditate. Meditation physically changes the brain. A Massachusetts
General Hospital study looked at the brain scans of 16 people before and
after they participated in an 8-week course in mindfulness meditation. After
the course, the regions of the brain associated with compassion and
self-awareness grew in size and activity and the parts associated with
stress shrank and exhibited less activity.

To avoid becoming less happy as you get older - to avoid becoming more
rigid, fearful, repetitive negative thought patterns - meditate.

I know, I know, it sounds like meditation is the answer to happiness, right?
Well, it may not be the answer, but it is most definitely the doorway and an
indispensable tool.

Best of all, meditation feels good. The bliss that you get in a state of
very deep meditation is unlike any happiness that we can achieve in the
physical experience on Earth. What better way to start the day? Start the
day off meditating and you start the day off happy. The rest of your day
will flow beautifully.

Your inner bliss can be nurtured and encouraged. It’s about getting in
touch with a simple inner pleasure of doing something you love, enjoying
the moments, keeping your sense of wonder and curiosity, and realizing
that you don’t need external sources to make you happy.

You make you happy.

Whatever your situation, you can change it. Inside you, you can reinterpret.
Shift your perspective. Meditation will help you do this… 40 minutes a day,
every day, to greater and greater happiness.

"Creating the daily habit of deep heartfelt thanks is truly amazing. I used
to do this after meditation and then incorporated it into my shower time.
Now, every single day, and numerous times each day, thoughts of deep
appreciation automatically go through my mind.