“Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and
leaving an impact on people, brings happiness.” Rabbi Harold Kushner
So many of us seek happiness and no
matter how much money power or fame we achieve, it eludes us. Money can make
our lives complicated. We purchase more material objects with our money and
they break down and need to be fixed. We buy more tickets to movies, theatres,
and traveling places and it basically eats up our time and energy. It isn’t
that we don’t enjoy our money or the places we visit. We find ourselves sitting
in a chair the next day wondering why we don’t have a big smile on our faces
and brimming over with happiness. Instead we are exhausted and want to spend
time alone.
Sometimes we strive to spend more
time with others we care about, but they are so busy, they have little time to
give us. This can make us feel unimportant to them. Searching inward we come to
terms with the notion they don’t care about us as much as we care about them.
It isn’t a good feeling and it doesn’t bring any happiness. We make new
friends, join more groups or clubs, change our hair style, and buy new clothes
and attempt to change our mindsets. Many times we end up alone and wondering
what we did wrong and why are we unlikable. The more we do for others, the less they
reciprocate. When we need a friend we can’t find one. At times we think we have
a giant target on our backs that says deplete me it’s okay. Others appear to
have it all together. Maybe if we had more money or a better job or good
friends or lived closer to family, things would be different.
We become more introverted and
negative. We have little to say to others and they respond with quick retorts.
Hasty responses begin to arise and we become consumed with feeling sorry for
ourselves. Being so caught up in this state of mind, we completely ignore those
standing beside us. We are after all suffering so much more than they are. The
tunnel is dark and gloomy. We can’t find our way out. There is no one willing
to help. Inadequacy in everything we get involved with is the norm.
Happiness has little to do with
money, fame or friends. It truly is what we lite inside us. There is no
measurement for fame. Maybe we are the hero in a young child’s eyes, or the one
friend always depended upon by another. We may be the example of what a good
neighbor is or the example to a stranger of what a kind person looks like. If
we are constantly caught up in our own shortcomings and woes, we are unaware of
what’s going on around us. So much is happening in front of us that we need to
stop turning inward and look outward. We are missing so much of life if we don’t.
Some people who have more than
enough money are not a bit happy. Some people with little money couldn’t be
happier. Observe the dynamics of this situation. Happiness comes from our frame
of mind and possibly from the parameters we set. If we believe we must have a
certain amount of money to be happy or certain material gains then those become
our restrictions for happiness. Break down the parameters and you allow
yourself to be happy. If we feel we need to travel to faraway places to find
happiness then again those are the restrictions. Tear them down and you can
find pleasure walking in your neighborhood and chatting with the neighbors.
When a person believes they would be more appealing if they had a better figure
or fancier clothes, they have set their guidelines. Rip up the guidelines and
really let the real you shine. Your personality is what gathers attention. Your
clothes and figure get the first look but they cannot sustain a grumpy
attitude. Suffice it to say you can start an exercise regime to help with the
weight.
Happiness is not necessarily about
being around those we love best in the world. It can be about loving those we
are with. The secret to happiness has to do with Contentment with who we are
and what we have. Contentment is the key word. That is what powers happiness.
If we are content, we will be happy and we will be tuned into others and the
world at large. Contented people come from all walks of life and from all
economic levels. It is when you own the objects but they don’t own you. You can
find pleasure in others and not limit yourself to a chosen few. If you limit
yourself then you have shut out a multitude of people and you basically become a
snob and a prejudiced person. Only those you have approved of can be your friends
or be close to you.
When so many people are searching for
love and acceptance it appears to be apparent that there are a lot of caring
people looking for friendship. Don’t limit yourself or your power to love and
be loved. We all really experience the same doubts, problems and fears. Just
about all of us cover them up because we don’t want to display our weaknesses.
None of us wants to appear vulnerable. Begin today to feel cheerful inside.
Start with counting your positive good blessings. When you begin mulling this
over, I would be surprised if a smile was not forming. Don’t let that smile or
good feeling evaporate. Remember to begin each day reviewing what you should be
thankful for. You will already be full of contentment and things can only get
better.
“Happiness is the art of making a bouquet of those flowers
within reach.” Anonymous
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