How to Be Happy in a Sad, Mad World…
[ Reading time ~ 7 minutes. ]
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INTRODUCTION
Can reading this blog post really make you happy? Hah! Probably not, but reading it can point you to where happiness comes from – and how it comes and goes.
The following piece – that first started life out as part of a How To Be Happy E-Course in 2017 – contains 7 “happiness invitations”. Invitations to allow yourself to be happy, or at least meet this now moment with as much grace as possible. It also encourages you to experiment for yourself, with your own experience of life, to see what works for you.
7 Happiness Invitations to Be Happy Now
INVITATION 1: THINK LESS
Thinking. Can’t live with it (sometimes), can’t live without it.
Nearly everyone thinks too much, thinks about their thinking, and takes what they think far too seriously. And all in a misguided attempt to live a happier, more easeful, and more fulfilled life.
Yes, you are addicted to thinking, make no mistake, but have no fear because help is at hand…
“The less we have on our mind, the better life gets.” – Michael Neill
This is an invitation for you to experiment, play with, and see/feel directly for yourself what your life becomes when you…
- Think less about your problems
- Think less about wanting to control ‘things’
- Think less about happiness
(Do the exact opposite of the above, if you like, as part of your experiment – this is YOUR life after all. AND this ONLY works when you “see it” for yourself.)
INVITATION 2: BE MORE GENTLE (WITH YOURSELF)
What the heck has gentleness got to do with being happy?
Surely happiness needs to be worked at, forced, and pursued, surely?
And can encouragement *really* be better than punishment, especially regards how you talk to yourself?
Hmm, well maybe it might be worth exploring (and experimenting with) the virtues of kindness et al…
“Notice – then stop looking – the job is done.” – Elsie Spittle
This is an invitation for you to experiment, play with, and see/feel directly for yourself what your life becomes when you…
- Be more gentle with the mistakes you make, or have made
- Be more gentle with your thoughts of past and future
- Be more gentle with your shame, your judgements and other icky ‘dark stuff’
(Do the exact opposite of the above, if you like, as part of your experiment – this is YOUR life after all. AND this ONLY works when you “see it” for yourself.)
NOTE: Get expanded version of this blog post sent to your email inbox. Just subscribe to my How to Be Happy E-Course below…
INVITATION 3: LISTEN MORE CLOSELY
There is so much going on in your head (and mine).
So much thinking, and planning, and working out.
So much frustration, confusion and fear – so much trying to understand.
It’s no wonder there’s no space to listen in, deeply so, to ALL that this moment has to offer…
“When you listen generously to people they can hear the truth in themselves, often for the first time.” – Rachel Naomi Remen
This is an invitation for you to experiment, play with, and see/feel directly for yourself what your life becomes when you…
- Listen more deeply to your intuition, gut feeling, or ‘inner guide’
- Listen more deeply to life, to others, to yourself
- Listen more deeply for the OKAYness within
(Do the exact opposite of the above, if you like, as part of your experiment – this is YOUR life after all. AND this ONLY works when you “see it” for yourself.)
INVITATION 4: LET GO, AND LET BE MORE
Ah, the art of letting go, or letting be, or of ‘getting out of the way’.
How to explain it all?
And how to reveal the benefits?
How to encourage others so intent on ‘holding on’ that they could, for a little while anyway, ‘put down the sword’.
How, indeed – read on!…
“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning.” – Lao Tzu
This is an invitation for you to experiment, play with, and see/feel directly for yourself what your life becomes when you…
- Let go of your how you do things
- Let go of who you think you are
- Let go of wanting it to be different
(Do the exact opposite of the above, if you like, as part of your experiment – this is YOUR life after all. AND this ONLY works when you “see it” for yourself.)
INVITATION 5: NOTICE EBB and FLOW MORE
Night follows day follows night follows day.
The tides splash in, the tide recedes out.
A thought appears – ‘entertains’ us – then exits stage left, for another one to take its place.
Life, then, signs of ebb and flow in abundance: yin and yang, slow and fast, light and dark, soft and hard, up and down, etc. etc.
Yet there’s so little awareness and appreciation of this obvious fact, so much resultant dissatisfaction.
What to do…
“If the only thing people learned was not to be afraid of their experience that alone would change the world.” – Sydney Banks
This is an invitation for you to experiment, play with, and see/feel directly for yourself what your life becomes when you…
- Notice the ebb and flow of life
- Notice the ebb and flow of your thinking
- Notice the ebb and flow of your moods
(Do the exact opposite of the above, if you like, as part of your experiment (DON’T NOTICE) – this is YOUR life after all. AND this ONLY works when you “see it” for yourself.)
INVITATION 6: SEE ‘THROUGH’ PROBLEMS
What, exactly IS a problem?
Is it an opportunity to grow, to learn, to explore?
Is it a sign to change direction, or let go, or is it some other form of feedback?
Is having a problem a problem? (Do you like having problems, for example?)
What, exactly, IS a problem?…
“All problems are illusions of the mind.” – Eckhart Tolle
This is an invitation for you to experiment, play with, and see/feel directly for yourself what your life becomes when you…
- Understand where problems (and solutions) are created
- Understand personal problems, work problems and world problems
- Allow new insights, new clarity, new answers
(Do the exact opposite of the above, if you like, as part of your experiment – this is YOUR life after all. AND this ONLY works when you “see it” for yourself.)
INVITATION 7: TRUST IN LIFE MORE
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
(What would you do if you knew you couldn’t succeed?)
Trust knows the answer to this question, even if you don’t.
Trust is the wind in your sails, even on a windless day.
Trust is awareness of your innate health in action.
So there!…
“One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end.” – J. Krishnamurti
This is an invitation for you to experiment, play with, and see/feel directly for yourself what your life becomes when you…
- Trust in yourself more
- Trust in this moment more
- Trust in the ebb and flow of life more
(Do the exact opposite of the above, if you like, as part of your experiment – this is YOUR life after all. AND this ONLY works when you “see it” for yourself.)
CONCLUSION
Is there any point in aiming to be happy in the future – in this sad, mad world? I don’t think so. So whatever’s stopping you from being happy right now, the happiness invitations above can help.
With the proviso (of course) that permanent happiness is a myth, and not how life is meant to work – ever.
Are YOU Happy Now?
Well, you’ve heard the thoughts of the sometimes troubled man they call Steve M Nash. What matters most, however – for you, anyway – is what you think. Why not find out! Reflect on this piece, see the truth of it for yourself! And if you feel like sharing your feedback with me, that’d be great. Alternatively:
- How to Give Yourself a Dose of Happiness Every Day is a self-hypnosis download aimed at helping you develop instinctive and habitual happiness for yourself. To assist you in the ever-changing travails of life, no less. Win-win for all concerned, really.
You can find out more here: https://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/fun-hypnosis/happy-days* - Happiness Now! – How to be Happy in a Sad, Mad World
Learn more about Happiness Now! in the book inspired by this blog post. You can buy the book here!
* Note: this is an affiliate link. It means that (at no extra cost to you) I may well receive a commission on any purchase you make via the link provided.