Find Happiness
by Looking Inside
"If I could only figure this out, I
think I could find happiness" my friend said during a recent conversation.
This is not the first time, nor will it be the last that I hear this statement.
Too often people believe that finding happiness is as simple as finding
something else they want. In my experience, no one has ever found long term
happiness by achieving another goal. Ultimately, to find happiness is to invest
the effort look within yourself.
In other words, happiness is completely an inside job. The most important piece
to finding happiness is to comprehend happiness is a choice and not the result
of an experience. If all happiness could be found as the result of an acquisition,
meeting a goal, or having anything, then a person's happiness would always be
subject to something else.
An important and fundamental truth to remember is that one definition of
happiness is simply the absence of an opposite emotion whether it is pain,
sadness or something
else. If the opposite emotions are never experienced then happiness can never
be experienced either. Just as bad times allow you to appreciate good times,
and hunger allows you to appreciate food, sadness allows you to appreciate and
experience happiness.
We can also define happiness as enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure,
satisfaction or joy.
How often do you hear... "I'll be happy when"? When I get that job,
I'll be happy. I'll be happy when I find a life partner. I'd be happy if I had
more money.
"If I had" scenarios all follow the same flawed reasoning; that is
happiness is based on external circumstances.
If you base your happiness on external circumstances, you will continuously
fail to find happiness. There will always, always be another external
circumstance. There will always be another dollar, another job, another house,
or another partner. Better, more, else.
We must find our happiness somewhere else. Find happiness within yourself. We
have been given everything we need to be happy.
One of the ways to allow yourself to choose happiness is to understand life is
perfect. Although this subject is worthy of it's own article, life is perfect
because we create it with our choices. Since we can create life, how much
better can it get?
When we can accept that life is perfect as it is and that our lives are the sum
total of everything that has happened to this instant, only then can we accept
the joy and
happiness we deserve.
This concept is very difficult for some to accept. But the alternative to being
happy now is to spend the rest of our lives seeking happiness as if happiness
was an item to be bought or found.
It's not. Just remember the saying. Don't worry - be happy!
Miami Phillips has been coaching and consulting individuals and small business
executives since 1999. Get the self coaching tools you need to help you find
happiness.For free of course:http://www.miamiphillips.com
