Friday, January 21, 2011

HAPPINESS FROM WITHIN

A dear ole friend at lunch asked me this --- "I'm not happy. Are you?"

Are you happy? A question asked of anybody everybody at one time or another. So we get lots of answers to that from friends, people, books, videos, music, movies. We try to provide our own answers too. That usually helps us coast along through our days or on the other hand leave us even more confused and weary.

Well, I have learned through my own life journey that happiness of the good kind does not come from outside of your turf. Rather it's right there in your hand... waiting to be created nurtured expanded enlarged and blazing out to the bigger world outside if you let it. In short, you draw from within and not without if you want to be happy. You'll struggle with that, of course, because humans (that's you and me and others) have this myopic penchant for misery, rather selfish if you look hard at it. Misery attracts attention and humans love attention, of any kind. We're babies pretending to be adults.

So to be happy, you have to be quite creative at it. You like flowers, so don't wait for someone to bring you a bouquet or an occasion to buy some. Get them from the flower shop. You love peace and quiet, so go find a space in the house where you can sit or read a book without interruption. You love nature, so go for an early morning walk and commune with the lovely sunrise, chirping birds, and a gentle breeze on your face. Or take out your canvass and brush and paint it. You love coffee, so go fix yourself one - bring it to the table and sip slowly feeling the warmth embrace your whole being.

Happiness are the moments that take your breath away.

14 comments:

  1. Enjoyed your post...I no longer search for happiness but it always finds me!

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  2. Hi Theanne,

    Happiness always finds you.... that's lovely! I think it comes to a heart simply open to it. You're that simple and happy heart. Nice to have met you.

    Many among us cannot seem to see happiness even if it were staring them on the face.. perhaps just looking elsewhere for it. May God's light and joy shine upon them and everyone.

    Thanks for your lovely visit.
    May you have a pleasant and blessed day.

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  3. Very nice and simple post. Loved reading your post. Thank you for sharing.

    Aby

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  4. Aby! delighted by your visit. :-) How are you? Oh by the way, have left message in your blog. So always take care okay? Tons of blessings to you and your loved ones. Thanks for dropping by.

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  5. Ellen,

    I have been inactive for some time but am making efforts to get back. Read all pending posts. As usual all are GEMS. On Live Life, one should have confidence, though it is good to be little under than overconfident. Yes, one should write about what one feels sincerely. Humility, very true. One should always be thankful to GOD for what we have. If we focus on pain we have it never diminishes but becomes more intense. So we need to take our mind away from it and see what we have best with us. That was a beautiful painting in water colours. One should make the best of what one has, so live life to fullest. We need to speak our mind but in a manner which is convincing rather than repulsing. I fully agree with this post, I had written some time ago that happiness is in your hands. One can think positive and be happy under all circumstances.

    Take care

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  6. Excellent advice, Ellen! If we have to have perfect circumstances to be happy, it will elude us. We all have the power to be happy, that's how God designed us. You have a wonderful way of putting things. And now,I'm off to the fridge to find something that will make me happy...

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  7. Hey Deb, yup there's plenty inside the fridge for that.. lols! I do that too. :-)

    Love your words >> "We all have the power to be happy, that's how God designed us." Amen to that.

    Thanks for your lovely visit and words. Warms the heart so. Take care and God bless.

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  8. Hi Jack,

    So nice and good to see you here. Gee! you cruised down a number of posts in just one sitting. How delightful to know! Thank you so much. Thank you too for sharing your wisdom on the subjects put down. I always look forward to that with your every visit.

    Wish you all the very best in life. God bless you and your family.

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  9. Hi Elen,
    I had read it that happiness comes to those who don't spend time in the clumsy pursuit of it. It comes to those who don't care about being happy; it comes from total unconcern....I think it lies in small things, like you said, fixing a cup of coffee, or reading in solitude etc. It is not a constant state but flitting, transitory moments we spend doing things we like to do that leads to happiness. I think it also comes from material comfort and security, like money in bank (not too much but enough to help you go to a restaurant) and a nice place to stay. A companion also helps but a wrong type can be disastrous. Do you know in Bhutan they measure the wellbeing of their citizen not by GDP but by GAP (or something like that) gross annual happiness?

    And I totally agree that displaying misery is a way of attracting attention for some.

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  10. Hi Indra,

    So true your words. Wow that's how they do it in Bhutan? amazing! Hey thanks for dropping by and for your sharing. Loving it every time. I look forward to hearing more from you. By the way, love reading your interesting blog. Take care and God bless.

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  11. Ellen, Remember me? I am back and hope to stay in touch. How have you been all this while?
    Aditi

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  12. Aditi you're back!! I missed you and wondered where you were. 'Been a long time. So glad that you're here now. By the way, you sure can sketch.. loved the one you put up in your blog. Waiting for more! :-) Take care always. Let's keep in touch. May God bless you and your loved ones.

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  13. Hey Ellen....

    As usual just a fab post :)) You write beautifully... no words .......

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  14. Chakoli! what a lovely happy surprise!! Missed you, girl! Where've you been?! :-) Anyway, so glad to see you again in the blog. Hey, that was a nice piece you wrote in the blog; have left message there too.

    Wish you all the best in life. May God bless you and your loved ones.

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:-) Here's where I warmly welcome you and where you leave your footprints behind with fond memories attached to it of wonderful chats and friendships. Thank you for your comments. Or send your comments to ellen622@gmail.com. Will be seeing you in your blog too. God bless you!