Right now, stop and think are you happy? do you feel joy or are your in anticipation, anxious or upset. Could you pick a random day in the future and know you’ll feel happiness when you wake up.
Ironically to become happy or a better definition, joyful. You must stop seeking happiness and stop trying to attain it. Society especially now days has such a belief that in order to be happy you need to buy, achieve or attain something; The next gadget, a promotion, more money, respect from someone or even a holiday.
“Almost nothing material is needed for a happy life, for he who has understood existence” – Marcus Aurelius
There is nothing you can attain that can make you feel joyful except gratitude for each moment. When a person realises that anything money can buy is actually worthless and cheap; Cars, houses can be replaced at anytime. Yet everything free is endlessly rich; Minds, Bodies even the amazing gift of sight, hearing, ability to move and feel. These things are priceless and given to us for free so we take them for granted.
“Everything that’s really worthwhile in life comes to us free – our minds, our souls, our bodies, our hopes, our dreams, our intelligence, our love of family and friends and country. All of these priceless possessions are free.” – Earl Nightingale
Any task is wastefully done, if what we assume comes after the task will be better then focus and presence in the moment. This can be said about anything, even a holiday. You can argue that on holiday you are happy or you become happy. Although you just learn to appreciate that moment and are grateful for it so you are happy when you’re away. You become present in the moment and can be joyful. However you might still get anxious about work or worry about money then you can loose your ‘happiness’.
An easy way to feel joyfulness every morning is with one of the most powerful emotions, gratitude. If every morning you wake and appreciate and are grateful for everything you have, and you have a lot! (The mere fact you’re reading this I can almost name an endless list) your day will start out amazing.
Your, body, mind & health. The ability to hear, smell, feel, move, love. The power of your mind, to think, create and perceive.You can read, write and talk. Your friends, family and your loved ones (all dogs). Lucky enough to be in this time period with the amazing technology. Global communication to anyone instantly. The ability to learn, grow and travel. Ease of access to anything you need, water, food, clothing or shelter. The mere fact you were born into an amazing universe on the perfect planet and can perceive it all through this gift of life…
This list is just the beginning
Stoicism is a philosophy that has lasted since ancient Greece. However you can even see similarities between Buddhist philosophy and has a lot to do with this post.
