My OperaHappiness
Friday, October 22, 2010 7:36:54 PM
When I was a child happiness came naturally and my mother nicknamed me, “Merry Annie.” Happiness was a way of life.
I remember the joy of running down stairs to see my father when he got home from work, walking to school, touching the pussy-willows, and swinging on the swing so high that it scared my mother. Small things made life adventurous, but this changed as I “matured.” These things vaporized becoming insignificant as bigger, more distinctive events needed to occur for “happy” to be elicited.
Happiness was no longer a way of being as an unconscious choice was made to be discontent as if this was stronger and more riveting. However, I find morose people less compelling. It doesn’t take much effort to live one’s life driven with fury, sadness and malcontent, but I want more than to exist. I want to feel life, to take it in and to be with life.
Not long ago my life shifted in a huge way which scared me. First, I went into a survival mode. We need certain things in this world to get by, and this caused me sleepless nights of worry. I then went into a fighter mode which was required. It was productive because I was able to get what I needed and to make smart decisions, but, I slipped into depression. My emotions were that of failure at life, but change is life.
[img]
It took deep contemplation of the, “Everything happens for the best” resolution that I’ve adhered to in the past to elicit insight.
Wisdom trickles down like rain when we are most dry giving us thirst quenching knowledge that is ultimately needed.
I had become absorbed in an egoistic reality of who I was. Contemplation allowed me to see how the patterns of life’s busyness had taken over as I strove to achieve aspects and to acquire others leaving “I am that” which is the highest Self behind.
Yesterday I spent an hour at the pool. I swam laps and floated. I felt free for the first time in a long time; unencumbered by life’s expectations. I let go.
No one said that life was going to be easy. Everyone has challenges. This is karma. Karma is what we chose to learn before we came to this realm and there’s no escaping it now. If we don’t take in our lessons, the cycle will continue until we have at last processed what is needed to learn. Karma is a not bad thing. It is what we have chosen to become greater.
While at the pool I overheard a couple of men talking. One said, “It’s about simplifying life.” This resonated for me. Life is what we make it emotionally as well as physically.
We can’t always control what happens, but the way that we perceive life’s events can either give us power or take it away. The way that we handle our emotions can as they say make or break us.
Meditation helps me to breath in contentment. It makes my life happier. When I am anxious I literally take a deep breath of happiness and it changes my perspective. It creates energy. Think about it. When we are depressed, sad, or angry our energy is low. When we are in these states we can barely move much less make changes. Breath in happiness and you will feel stronger, more energetic and able to take on challenges because you will see them as opportunities instead of avenues of strife.
When we are young we take life in. The smallest things bring us hope. As we mature we take on more and we become titles. We exist for our jobs, marriages, friendships, etc. Our responsibilities swallow us leaving no room for the divine. Still, when you observe older people often those whom are the most content are like the children. They are in the moment instead of absorbed with getting by or with doing. They’ve left the ego behind to experience the fullness that is life.
The choice of happiness brings freedom.
this morning's sunrise_resized.jpg
I remember the joy of running down stairs to see my father when he got home from work, walking to school, touching the pussy-willows, and swinging on the swing so high that it scared my mother. Small things made life adventurous, but this changed as I “matured.” These things vaporized becoming insignificant as bigger, more distinctive events needed to occur for “happy” to be elicited.
Happiness was no longer a way of being as an unconscious choice was made to be discontent as if this was stronger and more riveting. However, I find morose people less compelling. It doesn’t take much effort to live one’s life driven with fury, sadness and malcontent, but I want more than to exist. I want to feel life, to take it in and to be with life.
Not long ago my life shifted in a huge way which scared me. First, I went into a survival mode. We need certain things in this world to get by, and this caused me sleepless nights of worry. I then went into a fighter mode which was required. It was productive because I was able to get what I needed and to make smart decisions, but, I slipped into depression. My emotions were that of failure at life, but change is life.
[img]
It took deep contemplation of the, “Everything happens for the best” resolution that I’ve adhered to in the past to elicit insight.
Wisdom trickles down like rain when we are most dry giving us thirst quenching knowledge that is ultimately needed.
I had become absorbed in an egoistic reality of who I was. Contemplation allowed me to see how the patterns of life’s busyness had taken over as I strove to achieve aspects and to acquire others leaving “I am that” which is the highest Self behind.
Yesterday I spent an hour at the pool. I swam laps and floated. I felt free for the first time in a long time; unencumbered by life’s expectations. I let go.
No one said that life was going to be easy. Everyone has challenges. This is karma. Karma is what we chose to learn before we came to this realm and there’s no escaping it now. If we don’t take in our lessons, the cycle will continue until we have at last processed what is needed to learn. Karma is a not bad thing. It is what we have chosen to become greater.
While at the pool I overheard a couple of men talking. One said, “It’s about simplifying life.” This resonated for me. Life is what we make it emotionally as well as physically.
We can’t always control what happens, but the way that we perceive life’s events can either give us power or take it away. The way that we handle our emotions can as they say make or break us.
Meditation helps me to breath in contentment. It makes my life happier. When I am anxious I literally take a deep breath of happiness and it changes my perspective. It creates energy. Think about it. When we are depressed, sad, or angry our energy is low. When we are in these states we can barely move much less make changes. Breath in happiness and you will feel stronger, more energetic and able to take on challenges because you will see them as opportunities instead of avenues of strife.
When we are young we take life in. The smallest things bring us hope. As we mature we take on more and we become titles. We exist for our jobs, marriages, friendships, etc. Our responsibilities swallow us leaving no room for the divine. Still, when you observe older people often those whom are the most content are like the children. They are in the moment instead of absorbed with getting by or with doing. They’ve left the ego behind to experience the fullness that is life.
The choice of happiness brings freedom.
this morning's sunrise_resized.jpg
